Hope to see you there!

New Year’s in Times Square is going green this year by using energy stored up from bicycle pedaling to power the 2-0-0-9 sign that lights up as the New Years Ball drops at midnight.

Six bicycles with generators connected to batteries are available for the public to pedal at the “Duracell Power Lodge” located at 1540 Broadway (between 45^th & 46^th streets). Approximately 230 hours of pedaling are required to light the sign for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can pedal now through Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Although everyone seems really impressed by the noble idea of powering the New Year’s sign with bicycle pedaling, when I went over there this afternoon, very few people were actually riding the bikes. When I first heard about it, I figured there would be a line-up to try the bikes. I am curious to know how much power they have stored up already and if they will have enough by New Year’s Eve. I tried cycling for a few minutes myself and really worked up a sweat. But it was fun and I got a snazzy sticker that says “I powered 2009” for my efforts.

I keep hearing that many LEED certified buildings actually burn more energy than those that claim no “green” status. While studying for the LEED AP exam, I came across at least one obvious reason for the energy glut of buildings prizing a LEED certification and thought I would share it here. 

For those of you who don’t already know, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system where points or credits are earned by complying with various criteria set forth by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). A building earns a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Certification depending on how many credits earned.

So here is where some of the excessive energy consumption may be coming from. In the Indoor Environmental Quality section of the LEED rating system, one credit can be obtained by increasing the ventilation rate in the building, or in other words, increasing the amount of indoor air that is replaced with fresh outdoor air within a certain period of time. An increase of at least 30% above the minimum standard is required to earn this credit for buildings that are mechanically ventilated. Buildings implementing natural ventilation techniques (i.e. operable windows, stack effect, thermal mass, etc) must follow a different set of criteria for increasing ventilation levels to earn this credit. I won’t get into that here, since I am more concerned with the cause of the increased energy consumption and most natural ventilation techniques do not consume any energy. But as you have probably already guessed, increased ventilation rates in a mechanically ventilated building results in increased energy consumption.

Additional air ventilation improves the indoor air quality of the building and improves the comfort of its occupants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor pollutant levels are sometimes 2-5 times and occasionally even as high as 100 times more than outdoor pollutant levels. So I can see why increased ventilation should be integral to the design of an environmentally responsible structure.

But on the other hand, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings consume about 37% of the energy produced in the United States, making the reduction of a building’s energy consumption, in my opinion, a high priority on the journey towards sustainability. The fact that many supposedly green buildings are actually heading in the wrong direction is quite shocking.

Although additional ventilation is nice, the USGBC should disqualify mechanical ventilation as a viable option to increase ventilation. Instead, they should require mechanically ventilated buildings to compliment their HVAC systems with natural ventilation techniques when possible, to increase ventilation and earn this credit without increasing their energy consumption. Besides, most people prefer opening a window than having a vent blasting air in their face anyways.

That being said, a measly one point earned for increasing ventilation hardly seems like it could be the sole culprit for the higher energy consumption of LEED buildings. So here are some useful links if you want to read more about the questionable energy efficiency of LEED Certified buildings:

http://www.energysavingscience.com/

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-007-prioritizing-green2014it-s-the-energy-stupid/?full_view=1

http://www.green-buildings.com/content/78357-henry-gifford

For more information about USGBC and the LEED Rating System go to www.usgbc.com.

Copyright © PathtoFreedom.com

I recently saw a film called “Home Grown”, part of the Green Screen series at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. Directed by Robert McFalls, the film is a humbling documentary about the Dervaes family farm. But here’s the clincher- the family farm, which harvests over 6000 lbs of produce annually, is actually located in the city, on their modest urban homestead no larger than a quarter of an acre, in Pasadena, California. They plant crops on every square inch of their backyard and front yard. The family of four-father and three adult children-lives entirely off their urban organic farm. They sell produce to local restaurants, make their own bio-diesel, and use energy generated from solar panels. A true inspiration for this city dweller, who never thought an urban homestead was possible, I highly recommend you check out this movie if you get the chance. For now, you can view the trailer and find out more info here http://www.homegrown-film.com/index.html .

Copyright © PathtoFreedom.com

However, the film is more than just about a unique family farm. “Home Grown” reveals how a sustainable lifestyle is not only feasible, but absolutely expedient for a better quality of life, for the future of our planet and as a quiet protest of “the corporate powers that be”.

A better quality of life…In the film, a local chef praises the superior taste and texture of the organic produce he purchases from the Dervaes family farm for his gourmet restaurant. Meanwhile, one of the Dervaes daughters strolls into the backyard garden and snips a few fresh greens for a salad. They may not have cable television, but I haven’t had a decent tasting tomato in years, so it makes you think who is really living a better quality life.

The future of our planet…The Dervaes’ are devoted environmentalists who consciously minimize their impact on the earth with everything they do. They maintain an informative website that promotes sustainable living called http://www.pathtofreedom.com. The future of our planet is in peril, the Dervaes family are an inspiring example of the responsible stewards of the earth we all could be. 

A quiet protest…I think we all agree that our leaders haven’t done such a great job of the whole “stewards of the earth” thing. It’s tough to really distinguish between our leaders and our corporations these days. Maybe there is no difference? “Home Grown” reveals how one family fought back by taking matters into their own hands.

Copyright © PathtoFreedom.com

“In our society, growing food yourself has become the most radical of acts. It is truly the only effective protest, one that can–and will–overturn the corporate powers that be. By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world–we change ourselves.”

 -Jules Dervaes 

“Home Grown” and the Dervaes family are an inspiration on many levels, allowing you to take away from their story whatever you are ready and willing to, but unwilling to let you walk away from the film without seeing the world and your place in it a little differently.