Two things Buffalo is well known for is the amounts of snow it receives and its history of brewing, so why not create a festival out of it? Buffalo Powder Keg Festival, which took place this past weekend, included sleigh rides, sledding/tubing, snow shoeing, snowman building contests, snow shoveling contests, and a snow queen contest. One of the main attractions was the world’s largest ice maze, which was 12,000 square feet built with 2,200 ice blocks. The festival activities were located in the southern end of downtown Buffalo within the HSBC tower plaza and the surrounding areas of Pearl Street Grill and Brewery.
Imagine if your home used such a small amount of non- renewable energy that the energy company owed you money. It’s possible to go green and save some green in the process with the use of solar tiles. This video illustrates the function, use, and aesthetics that solar tiles offer.
Tags: Energy, Operating Costs, Solar Tiles, Sustainable Living
I was scanning through Fall 2009 edition of EcoHome magazine and an interesting advertisement caught my eye. It’s “Showercork Flooring” by Sustainable Flooring – www.sustainableflooring.com. It’s described as ¼” thick pieces of cork cut from post-industrial wine corks…..finally someone has come up with a great idea for all those wine corks. I can’t tell you how many corks are floating around the drawers in my workshop just waiting to be re-purposed.
The manufacturer describes that the corks come on special backing paper and that their installation is similar to ceramic mosaic floor tile. First spread out the acrylic adhesive, place the cork sheets, stain if desired, apply two coats of polyurethane, and grout with a sanded grout. The manufacturer states the product can be installed in areas where water is a constant presence such as saunas, showers, and indoor pool surrounds. I think it would make a great floor around the next bar you may be designing. Just think what a conversation piece it would make. Now if someone could only come up with something to do with all those little plastic tables that come in the pizza box!
The M. Steven Piver, M.D. Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at Sisters of Charity Hospital recently opened their new facility. The Women’s Center was a way for the hospital to combine women’s services in a central location. The design, by Kideney Architects, creates a warm, inviting environment for the patients. A custom reception desk and nurse station, along with a barrel vaulted ceiling in the waiting room are just a few features of this upgraded health center.
Grand Opening in late January.
Tags: Buffalo, Healthcare, Kideney
Alfred State College and Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES is sponsoring a Renewable Energy and Conservation Methods Information night that is open to the public and free of charge. The informational night is geared towards home and business owners. This event will cover renewable energy fields such as current energy use assessment, energy conservation and weatherization methods, wind energy, solar thermal, solar electric and geothermal. There will be demonstrations and professionals to address any questions.
Thursday February 18, 2010
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
1825 Windfall Road
Olean, New York
For additional information call (716) 376-8278 or (716) 376-8384.
While it’s disturbing to know that people in our community have been exposed to harmful emissions from the Tonawanda Coke plant (and other industrial plants) along the Niagara River, it is good to know that at the conclusion of its one-year-study the DEC has assessed that the level of toxic chemicals in the air are far above the permitted quantities. I am anxiously waiting to find out what sorts of fines will be instilled, and more so, what types of safe-guards will be put in place to keep our air quality safe and clean.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/northernsuburbs/story/702077.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/55471.html
Tags: Air Quality, Health
Does one need a massive quantity of space to build their dream green home? This video, courtesy of PlanetGreen.Discovery.com, proves otherwise. An Architect in Hong Kong developed a high tech functional green home consisting of a mere 330 square feet. Prepare to be amazed.
For more information on some of the World’s Greatest Homes, click here.
Tags: Living, Sustainable Living, Trends
Recently my storage tank water heater has started showing its age, which has prompted me to begin my search for its replacement. With the recent promotions for tax breaks and rebates I’ve started to investigate tankless water heaters. They claim better energy efficiency, a longer life expectancy, and unlimited hot water. I found a good overview of them at www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com. Once I had a better exposure to the tankless heaters I jumped over to www.energystar.gov to find out the bottom line of just how much is available in rebates to offset the higher costs of the tankless systems. Provided you meet their criteria of an energy factor greater than or equal to 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90% you are available for a 30% rebate in the cost of the equipment and it’s installation. Energy Star also provides a brief flyer – “High Efficiency Water Heaters” (www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/WaterHtrs_062906.pdf). It provides a general overview and comparison of high efficiency water heaters.
In contrast, I reviewed an article by Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/water-heaters/tankless-water-heaters/overview/tankless-water-heaters-ov.htm) that recommends the reader maintain the storage tank heater citing higher up front cost and more maintenance for the tankless models.
For me, I’m leaning toward the tankless model. My water usage is average to below average and the biggest variable in the equation is the cost of energy over the life of the equipment. The tankless models show an expected life of 20 years vs. the 8 – 10 years for the storage tank models.
Anybody have any experiences, good or bad, they’ve had with a tankless water heater. I’d appreciate some honest feedback before I take the leap.
Would you stop deforestation if it were in your own backyard? It does not take a lot of explaining to show the impact of deforestation as shown in the below video, Unchopping A Tree.
Maya Lin – Unchopping a Tree from What is Missing? Foundation on
Tags: Sustainable
Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got/Till it’s gone/They paved paradise/And put up a parking lot … - Joni Mitchell
Recent studies by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS) have shown high concentrations of a chemical compound called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in settled house dust. Sources of PAHs are cigarette smoke, wood smoke, car fumes, and asphalt sealents to name a few. Most concerning are the elevated levels of PAHs in sampling sites near recently sealed parking lots.
There are two types of asphalt sealant one comprised of Asphalt. The other is Coal Tar, a by-product of steel coking, that has long been known to cause cancer in miners, steel workers and chimney sweeps. The problem with coal tar is that it doesnt stay put, it finds its way into waterways, tracks on sneakers and tires and ultimatly ends up as part of household dust that gets breathed in.
While the greatest danger lies in those populations who have direct contact with Coal Tars (Asphalt Workers , Seal Coating Companies …) it gives one pause when you consider how much of our existence is in the presence of these chemicals.
So when you smell that oh-so familiar summer time scent of recently sealed asphalt, you may want to close your windows and tread carefully through the asphalt jungle.
Seal Coating
See the links below for the full text of the USGS study and more information on PAHs.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34809699/ns/us_news-environment#storyContinued
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100113112056.htm
Tags: Community, Health, Sustainable Living
Recent Comments