Green News

New York City, NY—Just in time for the drop, there is an all-new ball for the New Year at Times Square New York. To make things even more festive, the new ball is also a “green” ball, as in earth friendly.

With light emitting-diode technology, or LED, the Times Square ball goes to the next level of illumination. Thousands packed the streets beneath the ball to watch the descent. Millions got in front of their television sets to view the spectacular globe shine in the New Year.

The history of the NYC ball dates back 101 years. The first drop was a ball with one hundred 25-watt bulbs. A century later, the ball is bigger than ever with thirty-two thousand LED lights. The LED technology makes the ball more versatile with color and design changes. The need for 20% less electricity to create the new ball’s New Year’s Eve glow spares the environment.

Something else new for the New Year…NYC will keep the ball on display 365 days now. It is one of the most requested sights by visitors to New York City, but usually stored away. In the New Year of 2009, the new “green” ball is out to stay.

Western Region—It is another attempt to revolutionize travel. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles have been around for some time. They are easier on the environment and travel about 300 miles on a tank of compressed natural gas, depending on the tank, of course.

Central CA—Green gifts are all around us this holiday season. The trick is to separate the faux-green from the real green. Green is not just a color; it is a way of life. It is that premise that has certain businesses on the map, Alviston.com for one.

Green News has located another green-based business; it is up and running for the green shopper… FreshandGreen.com. It is a site loaded with green gift ideas, but the most thoughtful gift may be free. A list of definitions to cut through all the green-speak from the eco-friendly frenzy.

GreenandFresh.com’s Eco-Standards page contains definitions from the green universe. Seemingly, like the developers of Alviston.com, GreenandFresh.com wants the green movement understandable for the “many,” so it decodes the terms created by the “few.” A helpful page, it enhances the green shopping experience completely on their website. FreshandGreen.com’s exceptional green gift selection is also well defined.

Central CA-Take a good look, it may seem like any other watch but it is not. No, this a solar-powered watch by Citizen from its Eco-Drive collection.  It’s a watch for the environment conscience person on your list. Like most renewable products, it saves money while sparing the planet.

The money-saving claim is that you should never have to buy a new battery. The green benefit is now you don’t have to worry about disposing the old spent (and potentially toxic) power source.

All one has to do is make sure the watch finds light from time to time and you should be good to go. Ordinary usage should be enough to keep the watch ticking, with good clean solar power.  There are claims that 3.5 hours of sunlight can power the watch for six months or better.

One solar watch seller is Ken Smith, owner of The Diamond Gallery in Fresno. Smith likes what he sees with the Eco-Drive line, but warns if you ever need the watch serviced be careful who you choose. It’s a solar-powered instrument. Those “unfamiliar” with the line might replace the special solar battery with an old variety and the whole renewable power concept is gone.

Citizen makes solar watches for both men and women with prices ranging from $150 and up depending on style.

Central CA-Look carefully at the pictures above…they are the plans of the first LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)-approved public building in Central California.  What does that mean? Well, quite simply, it means that one school district is putting its green money into a “green building” that should become an environmental model for the future.

Clovis Unified School District is investing in the “green” movement in more ways than one. The school district is committed to building a “New Energy” building on the Buchanan High School campus to teach “green” values. Green News was first to report the commitment last month.

Not only will the new structure meet LEED standards, it will become a prime example of “green” construction. A green test tube of sorts.  Even the roof will be a learning tool for students interested in “green.”

Taking this route could require more time, effort and money.  But once the construction is complete, the returns to the school district (and quite literally the planet) could be vast.  Architects and green designers like Alvis Projects have developed a greener and cleaner structure inside and out.   Construction begins soon.

Western Region-It’s free lighting after the installation.  It’s reasonably priced and the effects of bringing the sunlight into your home or business are dramatic.  If you have an interior space with dark spots and you want to brighten it up, the solar tube may be your immediate answer.

Solatube is one innovative company in California that demonstrates the value of its product quite effectively on its website.  The before and after illustrations appear to accurately demonstrate the effects of day lighting.

Green News has experience with solar tubes.  The ones GN installed have been reliable, glowing and charming all at the same time.

And while day lighting is a key component of the Solatube business, the company provides other solar options on the roof.  One is the solar-powered attic fan.

It may take more than one fan depending on the size of the roof but the virtues of keeping your attic cooler in the summer and drier in the winter at no cost are many.

Think about all the stuff you may have up in the attic.  It’s likely to last longer and maintain its original quality longer, with a quality-controlled environment.  Your old vinyl phonograph records will appreciate it.

Clovis, CA-Some talk about green leadership others simply do.   A major school district out west has decided to go green with its next construction project.  The administrators of Buchanan High School in the prestigious Clovis Unified School District are orchestrating construction of new science building on campus.  The structure will be known as the Buchanan Energy Center.

In a major step forward in the green world, the Buchanan leadership has decided the building will be constructed to meet LEED standards.  An incredibly difficult seal of approval to secure in the world of construction, but one many strive for in an effort to save energy and planet resources. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design.

There’s an increased cost to reach LEED standards, but a significant savings after the project is completed.   LEED strives to make its standards and practices more common than unique.   Buchanan’s decision will make it the first school in Central California to build a LEED-certified structure.

Mark Alvis, co-founder of Alviston.com, is one of those advising the Buchanan project.   Alvis gives a lot of credit to Buchanan administrator Reese Warne for taking this direction.  There are numerous advantages to the decision and Green News will be watching and reporting on the progress at Buchanan over the next year.

Alviston, CA-It’s been six months since Alviston.com appeared on the world wide web landscape.  The half-year progress report indicates Alviston.com strikes a “green” nerve with many of you.  According to mayor of Alviston.com, Mark Alvis, “The increases in October are off the chart.”

Visitors to the virtual town increased by 65%.   Thousands are turning to Alviston.com to learn more and more about the ever-changing world of “green.” One of the most popular stops is the Mayor’s Blog.  Mayor Alvis touched on a variety of earth-friendly topics in the past six months, but the information in October attracted a record number of visitors.  The mayor tells Green News, he is looking forward to more visitor comments on his blogs in the future.

Commenting for public consumption at Alviston.com requires a one-time, secure and free registration.  Then visitors can contribute to what they see or read.

Alviston.com is a firm believer in the “seeing is believing” concept; with numerous video reports.  The most-viewed report from the record-breaking month of October 2008 was the video exclusive on the “Green Home,” an energy, earth-saving home designed and built in the city of Fresno by Alvis Projects.  Another indicator, according to the mayor,  that the future is now at Alviston.com.

Fresno, CA-It’s a bright spot along the way.  When you drive by, the colors jump out at you.  It’s a new community/neighborhood out West but not a new concept.  In fact, it’s a throw back.  You can see it in the design. Front porches that face each other, community hall and pool.  They call it LaQuerencia and this is what it means, right off its fresnocohousing.org website:

One of the most important colors used for LaQuerencia is green.  It’s not painted on as much as built into the structures.  LaQuerencia is green by design, energy efficient with numerous green applications.  A completely unique concept in this part of the West.

A community within a community, complete with community dining options and other community-oriented gatherings.  Evidently, people who buy into this concept want to know their neighbors.  All types of families have a chance to connect in many different ways at LaQuerencia.

The buy-in is more than emotional, it is literal.  LaQuerencia home units are for sale.  It appears developers took the best of community planning and neighborhood associations, added a green spin and put it up for sale.  So far it has attracted a number of community-minded buyers with room for more.