Grow Your Own Vegetables: Urban Homesteader
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
Although I never thought of myself as an urban homesteader, my vision for my backyard garden in 2009 was very similiar to the video above. However, the POA covenants do not allow farm animals. The slugs ate all my strawberries and the $100 worth of lady bugs (for integrated pest management) all flew away!
As many try their hand at “living the farm life without the farm land,” they may find that it is not as easy at it looks. Suppose you get past the garden pests and local covenants, and you reap a bountiful harvest, then you need to preserve your precious vegetables. I should have taken notes in grandma’s kitchen when she showed us how to ”put up” the garden vegetables.
Not easily deterred, I am back at the garden adventure again this year! With visions of fresh vegetables for my dinner table, I don the gloves, knee pads, hat and garden boots and to try once more to become an urban homesteader.
Karen Stewart
Mass Confusion: LEED AP Credential Maintenance Program
Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
It seems that many of the emails and phone calls that I get these days are on the topic of the LEED AP Credential Maintenance Program (CMP). Apparently, GBCI and LEEDuser were getting the same inquires. Both produced web-casts on the topic and have saved a video of these on their websites. The links to both videos are shown below. If you are a LEED AP or LEED Green Associate, I would recommend that you watch both of them.
Green Building Certification Institute: “I am enrolled. Now what?”
LEEDuser- “LEED AP Credential Maintenance : Cracking the Code”
Author: Karen Stewart, LEED AP
Date: 3/10/2010
Earth 911 – What Was the Most Recycled Item in 2009?
Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
- Computers
- Batteries
- Televisions
- Paint
- Aluminum Cans
- Used Motor Oil
- CFLs
- Glass
- Fluorescent Lamps
- Christmas Trees
You can review their 2009 Annual Recycling Report for more information.
LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook for 2010
Posted on 12. Jan, 2010 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
If you are studying to take the GBCI LEED Green Associate exam, you should review the latest candidate handbook. The biggest change, as of December 2009, is the addition of 3 new primary references to study for the exam. These can be found under “Primary References” on page 12 of the GBCI Candidate Handbook. See below for the additions:
- Green Building & LEED Core Concepts Guide, 1st Edition
- Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process
- LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovation Rating System (My favorite book!)
To learn more of the new exam requirements, sign up for one of the upcoming LEED Green Associate classes in Northwest Arkansas.
USGBC Meet and Greet in Northwest Arkansas
Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
Save the date of January 19, 2010 to come out and mingle with members and friends of the local Western Branch of the Arkansas USGBC Chapter.
The first meeting of 2010 will be a membership mixer that starts at 5:30 p.m. at 4476 Waterside Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The location is off Zion Road, behind Lowes. You do not have to be a member to attend the social event. Come on out and meet the new leadership of the group. Hope to see you there.
New EPA Website Helps Homeowners Cut Energy Costs
Posted on 20. Dec, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in Green Homes, News
According to a federal survey completed in 2007, there are more than 128 million homes in the United States. This accounts for nearly 54% of the national energy use.
To reduce energy costs, many homeowners across the nation have implemented the “low-hanging fruit” conservation strategies such as changing to CFL’s, insulating the hot water heater, and installing a programmable thermostat.
If you would like to implement a holistic approach and take your home conservation strategies to the next level, check out the new EPA website for green homes.
The EPA Green Home website has tools to help you achieve the following:
- Reduce energy use
- Use renewable energy
- Reduce water use and protect water resources
- Select the most environmentally friendly location for a new home
- Choose green building materials and household products
- Reduce waste from home construction and household activities
- Increase recycling
- Improve the indoor environmental quality of your home
Federal Dollars Growing Green Jobs
Posted on 12. Dec, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in News
If you are a visual person like me, you may be intrigued by the graphic “Growing the Green Job Boom” by GOOD Magazine and Green For All. It is a great representation that shows how stimulus money is being spent across our nation for weatherization assistance programs, energy efficiency & conservation, and state energy programs.
You can’t help but notice the $130.8 million that is going to Texas for weatherization assistance programs! That’s a lot of energy audits, windows, caulking and insulation.
Kudos to Kansas City, Missouri for creating the “Green Impact Zone” to create jobs and to improve energy efficiencies.
Can any of you find Arkansas on the illustration? What is up with that? Perhaps the information needs to be updated.
You can download the graphics here.
LEED Green Associate Training in Northwest Arkansas
Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in LEED Training, News
Trying to decide if you should become a LEED Accredited Professional?
Click here to see engineering jobs available for LEED AP’s.
Click here to see the 6 things that Green Companies want to see on your resume.
Becoming a LEED Green Associate is the first step in becoming a LEED Accredited Professional. Go to the Green Building Certification Institute to learn more about the requirements to become a LEED AP.
Prepare for the job market of the future! Don’t be left behind, register for an upcoming LEED training class in Northwest Arkansas.
The LEED Green Associate class taught by EcoPotential is approved by the American Institute of Archictecture (AIA) for continuing education credit.
The Triple Bottom Line Cost of our Fossil Fuel Addiction
Posted on 21. Nov, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in Triple Bottom Line
The mission of EcoPotential is to improve the quality of life through green building and sustainability education and practices. Within the DNA of sustainability is the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). What is the Triple Bottom Line? Simply put, it is the expansion of our traditional accounting systems to include the environment and people when calculating our return on investment (ROI). TBL accounting requires that we invest not only in financial, but environmental and social capital as well. Often the TBL is referred to as Social, Economic and Environment or People, Profit and Planet. Click Triple Bottom Line to learn more.
When we continue to harvest and burn fossil fuels irresponsibly, we are focused only on the financial bottom line or economic return on investment. The social impacts of environmental degradation and dependency on foreign oil should be considered in the ROI calculation.
The documentary, Crude, considers the environmental and social impacts of our fossil fuel addiction.
The documentary is about a landmark case between 30,000 indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador and the oil giant, Chevron.
“The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, and a multiplicity of other health ailments.” Of course, there is much debate on both sides of the lawsuit, as there will always be when large amounts of money are at stake.
Crude: Movie Trailer
Looking For Grant Money to Fund your Green Project?
Posted on 13. Nov, 2009 by Karen Stewart, LEED AP in Grants
Over $96 Million in Federal Funding Available for State, Local, Tribal Governments and Education Agencies
This message announces the availability of more than $96 million in funding opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that can be used to support climate and energy initiatives including vehicle technology, energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building, waste management, training, and education. For full eligibility and application details, please visit the links provided below.
National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program–$64 million
EPA requests proposals for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Through this program, EPA seeks projects that will achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in designated poor air quality areas. Eligible entities include regional, state, local, or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations. Up to 80 awards are anticipated. Proposals are due 12/8/09.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html.
Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies–$8 million
EPA requests proposals for the Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Funding Assistance Program. Eligible diesel emission reduction solutions are listed at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgemerglist.htm. Eligible entities include regional, state, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations. Six to 10 awards are anticipated. Proposals are due 12/8/09.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html.
SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program–$12 million
EPA requests proposals for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program. This program will support projects that reduce diesel emissions through the creation of national, tribal, regional, state, or local finance program(s). Eligible entities include regional, state, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations. Up to six awards anticipated. Proposals are due 12/8/09.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html.
Environmental Education–$3 million
EPA requests proposals for Environmental Education Grants. This program supports environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. Eligible entities include local and tribal education agencies, colleges or universities, state education or environmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local or state agencies that conduct educational, environmental programs. Up to 95 awards are anticipated. Responses due 12/15/09.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program–$1 million
EPA requests proposals for the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. This program supports projects that address a local environmental and public health issue within an affected community. This year the program will emphasize the disproportionate impacts of climate change in communities with environmental justice concerns. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, energy efficiency, renewables, water efficiency, green jobs and green economy capacity building, and smart growth. Eligible entities include city, township, and county governments; tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations. Up to 40 awards are anticipated. Responses due 1/8/10.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html.
Brownfields Job Training–$2.6 million
EPA requests proposals for Brownfields Job Training Grants. This program supports the delivery of environmental job training to communities that currently receive, or have received, financial assistance from EPA for brownfields-related work. Eligible entities include state, local, and tribal governments; regional councils or groups of local governments; and nonprofit organizations. Twelve to 13 awards are anticipated. Responses due 12/1/09.
For more info: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/grants-funding.htm#EPA-OSWER-ORCR-09-07
Green and Healthy Homes–$2.4 million
HUD requests proposals for the Green and Healthy Homes and Technical Studies Program. Through this RFP, HUD seeks to improve knowledge of the effects of residential green construction on both indoor environmental quality and occupant health, with a particular focus on children and other sensitive populations. Eligible entities include state, local, and tribal governments and academic, nonprofit, or for-profit institutions. Up to seven awards are anticipated. Responses due 11/17/09.
For more info: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa09/grplead.cfm.
Solid Waste Management–$3.4 million
USDA requests proposals for the Solid Waste Management Grant Program. This program supports projects that assist communities through free technical assistance and/or training geared toward reducing or eliminating pollution of water resources in rural areas, and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. Eligible entities include public bodies, tribal governments, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Up to 40 awards anticipated. Responses due 12/31/09.
For more info: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/SWMG.htm.
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