The Green Blog

Philadelphia Style Magazine - "It's Easy Going Green"

2010-02-25T12:05:00.001-08:00

Thin Flats, 2009 Philadelphia Sustainability Awards Winner

2009-03-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Thin Flats project was recently chosen as one of the 5 winners for The Philadelphia Sustainability Awards out of nearly 70 nominees. The other winners include Bob Pierson for Farm to City, The Energy Coordinating Agency, The Philadelphia Eagles Go Green Initiative and the Schuylkill Banks Greenway Project.

On Sunday the Inquirer wrote about the award winners saying this about Thin Flats

"As the first LEED duplexes in the country, and most importantly being sold at a market rate price, Thin Flats proves that sustainable building does not have to be more expensive. This is a fundamental mission of Onion Flats.

Thin Flats is a unique experiment for Philadelphia, the region and the country. Scheduled to be the first LEED Platinum duplexes in the country, this project demonstrates that the highest level of sustainable building and living is not only possible, but accessible in a dense urban setting. It also shows how this is achieved by working with existing typologies of dwelling in the city: the Row house/duplex. As such, Thin Flats will be model of sustainable building for the country. This project will educate the general public, private developers and politicians through concrete and measurable ways that sustainable building must be common place, not a series of novelty exercises for those who can afford it. They believe that through Thin Flats it will become that much more apparent to wider audience that the question is not what is the cost of “living sustainably” but rather what is cost of living otherwise.

GREENandSAVE.com is a free resource for anyone that wants to save energy, money, and the environment. The articles, product reviews, online tools, and return on investment calculations are researched from a diverse range of public and private sector sources. Overall, the company is passionate about saving money as well as creating healthy homes, offices, and lifestyles.

I am not a paper cup

2009-03-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

I bought this ceramic mug over the weekend at the Franklin Institute. Looks just like a paper cup with a plastic top!

Renovation Nation!

2009-03-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

10-year tax abatement going green?

2009-03-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

From Philly.com

The 10-year tax abatement is getting a hard look in City Hall. Here's one of the more intruiging proposals we've heard for a potential change: tie the abatements to the environmental friendliness of the new buildings. The abatements would be given only to those properties that receive LEED certification, and the abatements would get bigger depending on what level of certification the project receives. A press release on the proposal follows.

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TAX ABATEMENT GOING GREEN
Bill changes property tax abatement to require LEED certification

Philadelphia, PA (March 5, 2009) — On Thursday, March 5th, Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown and Curtis Jones Jr. will co-sponsor and introduce a bill that will “green” the current ten year tax abatement on all new and rehabilitated residential and rehabilitated commercial properties. Applicants under the new system will receive property tax abatements proportional to achieving one of the four LEED Green Building certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is the nation’s leading Green Building standard. Created and administered by the United States Green Building Council, LEED measures performance through standards that evolve through industry input and expertise. Certification is achieved by demonstrating certain required actions as well as a flexible point system that allows each building to coordinate green building techniques and materials appropriate for each project’s unique budget and design. At last count, 345 jurisdictions are using the LEED rating system as part of their tax abatements, public building requirements or zoning requirements, according to the United States Green Building Council database.

Thin Flats appears on Jetson Green's Blog!

2009-02-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Thin Flats on JetsonGreen.com

Another Study Confirms, LEED Buildings Valued Higher

2009-02-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Uber-energy efficient buildings command higher rental and occupancy rates, and garner sale prices that are as much as 30 percent higher per square foot than conventional buildings, according to a recent study by University of San Diego researchers.

University of San Diego Study

BIA Northern Liberties Tour

2009-02-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

BIA Green Tour of Northern Liberties

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Real Estate Business & Legal domani developers onion flats

West Elm's Organic Collection

2008-10-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

If your looking to outfit your home in organic wares but don't want to compromise on style check out West Elm's new organic collection offering bedding and bath products. All too often the organic lines are in dull colors and designs but not the snow leopard towels which range in price from $9-24, also making them affordable for everyone!

It's about more than just energy ...

2008-10-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

While LEED construction has soared in the commercial market the residential market is just catching up. But if you think buying a green home is just about the energy savings here are a few reasons why a LEED certified home is the best investment you can make.

Our LEED homes are priced at market rate; there is no premium attached for the energy efficient features and appliances, air quality controls and non-toxic finishes.
Just because oil prices are going down doesn't mean electricity will. In fact projected rate increases have nothing to do with the cost of oil or inputs. Deregulation of the energy market has resulted in rate increased between 20-70%.
Lastly, energy efficiency is not the only or primary benefit of LEED construction. John Gattuso, senior VP of urban and national development for Liberty Property Trust says that "productivity is the key, it's more important than energy costs and the environmental footprint, both of which are also critical." Gattuso is referring to the business case for green building, which results in improved air quality. This improvement according to a Department of Energy Study showed the average productivity gain is 15%. Even a conservative improvement of 1% results in a staggering productivity gain of $600 per employee.
Gattuso also predicted a bifurcation of class A buildings, dividing sustainable design from those that are not. In other words, LEED buildings will be worth more.

Organic Upholstery Fabric

2008-10-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

If your looking to recover your sofa or chairs Greenable is a great resource for environmentally friendly fabrics. One fabric I love is this 100% organic cotton paisley print called 'sutara - pomegranate' by Robert Allen. Greenable also has a great selection of environmentally friendly fabrics from Knoll that are greenguard certified to use in buildings with LEED commercial interiors.

Smartest Paint Brush!

2008-10-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've had one of those moments where you see something so smart, so simple and wonder ... why you didn't I think of that? That's exactly what crossed my mind when I purchased a new paintbrush from Greenable recently. The top of the brush connects to a hose so you can rinse the brush from the top down. No longer will the paint collect at the top of the bristles.

Recycle Your Batteries

2008-10-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

If your looking for a place close by to drop off your old batteries check out the Big Green Earth Store. They also take cell phones and eye glasses and have a refillable laundry detergent system – so forget recycling that old bottle, reuse it!

Big Green Earth Store

Neighborhood: Olde City
239 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19176
(267) 909-8661

Goat Mowers?

2008-10-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

A lawn mower can easily spew as much smog-causing hydrocarbon into the air in an hour as a modern car, even though the car has 30 times as much horsepower, according to the New York Times. That's bad news for Philadelphia, which has some of the nation's worst air quality.

Perhaps the Park Rangers at Independence Mall and whoever (if anyone?) is overseeing the management of the city's vast portfolio of vacant lots should copy Seattle's City Government and unleash a herd of goats and sheep as an environmentally friendly alternative to mowing. No word on weather it also saves money but it would be nice to see some signs of life along independence mall's pastures.

T. Boone Pickens is after BLUE GOLD

2008-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably seen T. Boone Pickens TV ads about the urgency to solve the global warming crisis and maybe even some fluffy press coverage about this oil man's amazing conversion into an alternative energy advocate. But don’t be fooled by Boone’s mea culpa, it’s a clever ruse to get what he’s really after, a resource that’s quickly becoming more precious than gold, water.

It appears that Boone's support of Wind is a strategic cover to extract and profit by pumping ‘blue gold.' Pickens has rights to pump from the vast Ogallala aquifer in the high plains, one of the world's largest fresh water aquifers. Boone owns more water than any other individual in the U.S. and continues to acquire more. He hopes to sell the water he already has, some 65 billion gallons a year, to Dallas, transporting it over 250 miles, 11 counties, and about 650 tracts of private property. But Pickens needs a pipeline, and he'll get that pipeline by promoting the electrical transmission of Wind power. Thanks to lobbying, Boone's pipeline can run along the same corridor.

The world is in a water crisis and the warning signs are clear. Many scientists believe that water will become the most serious environmental issue for this generation. The Ogallala Aquifer, spanning from South Dakota to Texas, could be completely gone in as little as 25 years, thanks in part to pumping by Pickens. People in 8 states rely on this aquifer for drinking water, in parts of Texas it has been pumped dry.

Water is a $425 Billion dollar industry whose global greed and dominance echos the oil industry in so many ways, not the least of which is the players. The Bush family recently purchased a 100,000 acre ranch in Paraguay, directly over South America’s largest aquifer, putting themselves in a power position over the fresh water rights for more than 200,000 South Americans. By controlling this aquifer Bush could become the equivalent of the Saudi Royal Family. But, hey, Paraguay seems like a natural fit ... isn’t South America where dictators retire anyway?

CHECK out the trailer to FLOW a documentary about the water industry which was an official selection of at the Sundance Film Festival and received rave reviews from the New York Times

SHOW ME THE GREEN

2008-10-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

When the preeminent building industry association, whose members include big names like Westrum and Grasso, starts talking green, you know it’s a new day in Philadelphia.

The BIA has been an advocate for reforming the zoning code, the department of Licenses and Inspections and the permitting process to make it easier to do business in the City. Now this group is recognizing the business case for green. In today’s market it’s clear the value of a property is more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about performance. With increasing costs of energy and water, buyers and tenants want to know the ‘life cycle costs’ of a building.

Onion Flats, which has been the local pioneer of green building and more recently, LEED certified construction, will speak about green home building to some of the City’s most well-known developers. One of Onion Flats most recent projects, Berks Hewson, uses nearly 40% less energy than a home built to traditional code standards. Saving energy is good for the environment and it’s great for business!

“Introduction to Green Building”
Wednesday, October 15, 2008—1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The Friends Center, 15th and Cherry Streets

Frightening Home Heating Forecast

2008-10-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

In February of this year the Wall Street Journal reported that the average cost of delivered residential propane gas was up 28% from a year earlier. Residential heating oil was up 37% from a year earlier. While prices for natural gas usually go down in the summer, prices have continued to rise and are 50% higher since January according to one Ohio paper.

Prices for natural gas are being driven up by a lack of reserves, which are down 29% from the average. A colder than average winter on the East Coast last and the inability of production to keep up with demand are to blame.

In July National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. in Ohio announced the company has raised its gas rates by 44 percent. Oregon’s three natural gas utilities told a state regulatory panel that residential prices could go up by 10 to 40 percent this winter.

Many power plants use natural gas to generate electricity which may result in additional rate hikes beyond the last round of rates hikes in July that averaged nearly 30% across the country.

Snowboards Get New Ride

2008-08-19T07:45:00.001-07:00

All too often we hoard things that at one time were expensive but are no longer useful. You feel guilty tossing away this possession, if only you could find a new use! Take a cue from one home in Northern Liberties that transformed old snowboards into a cool new bench.

Renovation Nation

2008-08-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Patrick and Johnny McDonald along with Howard Steinberg built this home which was designed by Plumbob (the design arm of Onion Flats). This project was featured on Planet Green's Renovation Nation noting Onion Flats as Philly's dream team of green building.

Forbes Loves Philly

2008-08-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

After looking at the country’s 40 largest metro areas and examining appreciation and vacany rates, Forbes ranked Philly the 4th best market to buy a home. In the last two years alone home values increased 9.1% and vacany rates remain low at just 1.9%. According to Forbes the “housing market is relatively solid” in these areas. Philly’s proximity to NYC and DC, low cost living and concentration of Universities (second only to Boston) provides added stability for the housing and employment sectors.

In 2006 Forbes dubbed the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia the 11th best place in the country to buy a home. Not bad for a neighborhood that was barely on the radar a five years ago but now boasts some of the city’s best-backed developments including the almost completed American lofts designed by architect Winka Dubbeldam and the proposed Trump Tower along the waterfront. With the addition of Duck Flats, Stable Flats, Thin Flats and New Market Flats Northern Liberties is distinguishing itself as the City’s greenest neighborhood with the highest concentration of LEED certified homes.

McDonald's, LEED Philly and Cali

2008-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

The McDonald Clan is taking a bi-coastal LEED on sustainable development. While Tim and Pat McDonald, along with lifelong friend Howard Steinberg of Onion Flats put the finishing touches on Philly's first LEED certified homes, Mike McDonald awaits certification for the Margardio House, the first LEED Platinum custom home in Northern California.

Mike's company, McDonald Construction & Development, built the home which was designed by Plumbob (the design arm of Onion Flats). Just recently Pat and Howard flew out to the San Francisco to help install the greenroof and rain harvesting system. The home, which Mike now lives in with his wife and daughter, was featured on Planet Green's Renovation Nation.

Local Food

2008-07-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday Northern Liberties plays host to a small farmers market at 2nd and Poplar Streets. Each week Alexandra Cramer from Urban Girls Produce hauls her fruits and veggies to three different farmer’s markets in Northern Liberties, Fishtown and West Philly.
These events are just a few of the markets organized by the Food Trust whose website contains a list of all markets around the city as well as great tips and recipes.

Cramer’s farm is located 35 miles south of Philadelphia and all her produce is organic. Although she mainly sells to local residents our favorite little market Almanac buys her leftovers. Studies show that 90% of consumers want to know where their food comes from and by supporting local farmers more money stays in the local economy.

Architectural Recycling

2008-07-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Mark Cherry of Architectural Antiques Exchange has been salvaging architectural details and reselling them from his warehouses in Northern Liberties for more than two decades. He was green before people even knew what green was.

Mark’s business has grown substantially since that time and now he salvages items from buildings near and far. His treasure chest includes doors and hand painted tile from a Belgium castle, massive marble mantels, restored bars (one of his most popular items), light fixtures, wood paneling, furniture and almost anything you can think of or might never imagine - like an old NYC telephone booth and even a barber pole.

Cost of Water Going Up!

2008-07-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Water Department just proposed a 30 percent rate increase starting this fall, according to an article in the Philadelphia Daily News.

As part of the LEED process Duck and Stable Flats will install water saving features such as low flow faucets and dual flush toilets and be certified to use 40-50% less water than a comparable development. While most condo owners also pay for the common water needed to maintain landscaped areas, Ducks and Stables will have rainwater collection systems, often called “rain cisterns,” to irrigate the extensive network of gardens and greenroofs throughout the sites.

While most condominiums across the city will be forced to raise monthly fees to cover increasing water rates; LEED certified condos won’t be nearly as affected.

Electricity Rates Going Up Across US

2008-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Across the country the cost of electricity is soaring and utilities are expected to raise prices up to 29% across the board. According to the New York Times, Con Edison in New York City announced it was increasing rates by 22%.

USA Today reportsthat “the increases come after rising fuel prices already have driven up utility bills nearly 30% in the past five years, the sharpest jump since the 1970s energy crisis....In Virginia, Potomac Edison, citing high coal and natural gas prices, plans to raise rates 29% on July 1...”