Archive for 'Sustainable Energy'
Building Green: What it is and how to do it!
Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Lori Katz.
Maybe you’ve heard about building green and wondered what it is.
It’s simple: Building green means using products and techniques that save energy and/or water.
The result: instead of browning the environment through loss of trees, or polluted land, water, or air, we help it stay green –and blue.
Here are three ways you can Build Green.
Look for Energy Star Compliant Appliances
1. Use building components that reduce heating and cooling loads
Examples include structural insulated panels (SIPs), insulated concrete forms (ICFs), autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, and high-performance windows and glazings.
For more details see
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So you want a wind turbine? Part Two: Permits and progress.
Posted on 21. Dec, 2009 by Lori Katz.
Let’s imagine you checked out your wind quality, identified a good wind turbine, and are ready to try one out at your house in San Francisco. There are still some issues to resolve.
What about the building permits?
The good news is that the City of San Francisco is officially on record supporting the addition of wind power to its collection of traditional power sources and solar.
In an executive directive in August 2008, SF Mayor Gavin Newsome ordered that [...]
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So you want to have a wind turbine? Part One
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Lori Katz.
San Francisco is a breezy peninsula city on the edge of a huge ocean, and one of our local assets, the wind, is increasingly mentioned as a source of energy for our homes as well as our municipality. In this blog and the next, we consider the options for residential wind turbines in San Francisco.
How does a wind turbine work?
The technological principles of wind turbines are simple: wind turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into sufficient mechanical energy (shaft rotation) to run a generator. Besides the rotor (with blades/scoops), additional components for electrical production include a generator, gearbox, tower or support, electronic controls, and interconnection equipment. The energy generated can be used by the homeowner or redirected to PG&E to reduce your electric bill.
What kind of wind turbine do I need?
The two most important types of wind generators for residential use are [...]
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California and Federal Incentives for Solar Installations
Posted on 20. Oct, 2009 by Lori Katz.
The California Solar Initiative
The California Solar Initiative offers cash back for installing solar on your home or business. Customers earn cash rebates for every watt of solar energy generated on homes, businesses, farms, schools, and government and non-profit organizations.
Do I qualify?
If you buy electricity from one of California’s three investor-owned utilities (Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, or San Diego Gas & Electric), and you have roof or ground space that gets unobstructed sunlight from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round, you qualify for cash back incentives [...]
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Solar Power for Your Home for Up to 60% Off
Posted on 16. Sep, 2009 by Lori Katz.
In our first report, we discuss one of the most important ways to go Green: by getting your household electricity from the sun. If you are lucky enough to live in San Francisco, you can receive rebates from both the city and the state that can save you thousands of dollars. [...]
