From Miller-McCune.com:

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Michigan State University have calculated the carbon sequestration benefits extensive green roofs can provide. Findings from horticulturalists Kristen Getter and Brad Rowe in October’s Environmental Science & Technology revealed green roofs’ potential as carbon sinks.
… Two experiments were run to measure the potential of storing carbon in green roofs…

All the green roofs were planted with Sedum, a genus of leafy succulent known for its hardiness and often used as ground cover. “We planted what we knew would grow,” said Getter.

Over a two-year period, the plants on the East Lansing campus were periodically harvested. Leafy parts stored on average 168 grams of carbon per square meter, the roots and the soil respectively stored 160 and 300 grams on average. Combined, each plot had the capacity to store 375 grams of C0₂ per square meter.

http://www.miller-mccune.com/science_environment/cooling-the-asphalt-jungle-1671

The researchers estimated the city of Detroit has 219 acres of roof space available for conversion. If black tar roofs were retrofitted, 55,000 tons of CO₂ could be removed from the air — enough CO₂ to offset the carbon emissions of 10,000 mid-sized SUVs or trucks for an entire year, they calculated.

And some straight-up economic benefits:

Inside his office, Mumford has noticed a marked difference. White noise has been reduced. He’s saved 23 percent on his electric bills. And rather than redoing his roof every 10 to 20 years, he believes his green roof can last up to 60 years if maintained properly.

A study by the Berkeley Lawrence Lab found that if 15 percent of the buildings in Los Angeles installed reflective or green roofs, daytime temperatures would be reduced by 3 degrees Celsius — saving Los Angeles half to 1 gigawatt of power during peak-use hours.

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Join us as Senator Whitehouse hears our VOICES

The Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition urges you to join concerned citizens from all over Rhode Island to thank Senator Whitehouse for his bold and important stances on climate change.  Senator Whitehouse continues to support strong legislation to curb carbon emissions, in addition to supporting green jobs and sustainability initiatives.  We will be holding a rally at Burnside Park (across from Kennedy Plaza) to applaud his past leadership – but also to remind him that our clean energy future depends on his continued bold stance. Senator Whitehouse must continue to be a climate champion, pushing for stronger carbon reduction targets and mechanisms, and more green jobs.  But, he needs to continue to pressure the White House and Congress to take hard stances on climate change and develop green jobs, as their efforts, overall, have not been enough.

While we hold this rally, world leaders will be gathering in Copenhagen to negotiate a Global Climate Treaty.  At this rally we will also be rising to ensure that the United States and world leaders understand that we expect them to do what is ethical in order to secure our future, and commit to the fight against climate change, and move forward to create a more just, sustainable world.

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The CCURB Project HeatSave was highlighted, and our own dashing Adam Yarnell ‘10 is holding down page 22.

Plenty of the work done by students at the 165 colleges and universities in 46 states, represented in this report, has counterparts at Brown, through initiatives like the Real Food Challenge, the Beyond the Bottle campaign, Eco-Reps and individual projects like trayless dining, the revolving loan anticipated for the EEAC on-campus project dollars, and many more.

As emPOWER contemplates the coming semester and how to shape priorities and projects in spring of 2010, it’s worth a look at what other student groups are pulling off across the US.

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We welcome:
1) Timmons Roberts, Director of CES, speaking on “No finance for development, no solution to climate change.”
2) Kipp Bradford, Adjunct in Engineering, speaking on “DIY Energy Projects”

Climate + Energy Brown-Bags are short, informal talks held every Tuesday, 12-1pm in McMillan 317. Bring your lunch, your friends, and your questions! If you’ve missed the previous talks, get more information at our listing.

PS: Interested in helping out? Want to select speakers, connect with faculty, and learn about the latest Brown has to offer in Climate + Energy? Eager to see Brown become a leader in Climate + Energy? Lets talk. Email us at Ryan@emPowerBrown.org.

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[Edit: HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE list of CCURB ideas follow after the jump! - Ryan]

Possible Carbon-Reducing Techniques

• Water conservation – low flow showerheads, faucet aerators
• Green energy source – solar panels, PV, small scale wind turbine
• Transportation alternatives – bicycles, RIPTA campaign, rideshare, electric cars
• Weatherization – caulk, weatherstripping, insulation, roofing, windows
• Appliance Replacements – or heating/cooling improvements
• Big Polluters – changing practices at power plants, train stations, sewage treatment facilities
• Behavioral Changes – power strips, conservation, tire inflation
• Waste Reduction – double-sided printing, composting
• Education – better use of existing resources through appliance rebates and free home energy audits

Possible Sites

• Providence public/private schools
• Providence Housing Authority buildings
• Municipal Government buildings
• gas stations
• residences
• power plants
• water treatment facilities
• businesses
• hospitals/healthcare facilities
• catering businesses
• nursing homes
• daycare facilities

Possible Beneficiaries

• Rhode Island drivers
• small businesses
• low/medium/high income residents
• ex-offenders
• ESL adult learners
• veterans
• high school Providence youth
• National Grid customers
• Heating Oil Customers
• gym users
• renters
• homeless
• group home residents

Possible Community Partners

• George Wiley Center
• Apeiron Institute
• People’s Power and Light
• Interfaith Power and Light
• Sophia Academy
• Environmental Justice League
• Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence
• FarmFreshRI
• Family Life Center
• Clean Water Action
• Sierra Club RI
• Ocean State Action
• Audubon Society of Rhode Island
• English For Action
• Save The Bay
• The Genesis Center
• Progreso Latino
• Jobs With Justice
• Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition
• National Grid
• RI GreenStart
• Student Veterans of America
• Amos House
• Americorps Bridges 4 Learning
• Serve Rhode Island
• RI Community Food Bank
• Hope High School
• Providence Community Action Program
• East Bay Community Action Program
• Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley
• John Hope Settlement Home
• The Met School
• Swearer Center
• Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE)
• Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM)
• YouthBuild
• Nickerson Community Center
• Federal Hill House
• AS220
• The Steelyard
• City Of Providence
• State of Rhode Island
• City Year RI
• The Energy Council – RI (TEC-RI)
• Office of Energy Resources
• Community Works RI

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Work for social and environmental good. Paychecks included.

UPDATE: Thanks for all who acted fast – we got nine letters of interest in this round! Funding decisions will be announced by the end of the semester.

..with CCURB dollars.

First step – submit a letter of interest to ccurb@brown.edu by 11:59 pm on Monday, November 2nd.

This should state what you anticipate for the proposed project – broad estimates of budget, supplies needed, community partners, and faculty and student sponsors.

How does your community-based project address the following goals?

• Provide vibrant opportunities for learning for all those involved
• Engage non-university groups in thinking about how to increase the sustainability of the greater Providence area and its neighborhoods in a way that is responsive to the needs of the community
• Lead to a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

We’ll get back to you with feedback, suggestions and additional resources. The full application for grant funds is due by November 30, 2009 at 11:59 pm.

I’d love to hear your questions/concerns. More information at www.brown.edu/ccurb

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The Old-Fashioned Barnraising. Now available with caulk guns.

In the Amish tradition, when one family needs help building their barn, the community gets together to lend a hand and then celebrates after the work is done. Energy efficiency barn-raisings will bring neighbors in Providence together to help individual families weatherize their house, and then we’ll have a big party.

At the barn-raising, volunteers will break off into teams to learn and work on different tasks, such as sealing air leaks, installing insulation, and changing light bulbs to energy-efficient CFL bulbs. Through hands-on work, all participants will learn new skills to take back to their own homes in order to save energy and money.

Do I need to know anything about weatherization to participate?

No, people of all skill levels are welcome. Professional weatherization contractors will lead basic trainings for volunteers.

How can I get my house weatherized?

Let us know! We’ll be keeping a list of people who want their houses weatherized. Everyone whose house is chosen will be expected to participate on the day of their barn-raising and help weatherize at least two other people’s houses. They will be responsible for purchasing the weatherization materials needed for the barn-raising, if they can afford to do so. We are collecting donations to create a fund for those who need assistance to purchase materials.

Where do I sign up?

Email me (libby_kimzey @ brown.edu) if you need a ride over to 92 Holden St, Providence this Saturday morning. Stay for all or part of the 9 am to 2 pm festivities.

Contact Amelia at 383-7441 or amelia.rose@ejlri.org if you want to volunteer, put your house on the list to get weatherized, and/or  make a donation to help keep these barn-raisings going

Event Organized and Sponsored by Environmental Justice League, the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living, English For Action, and Community Carbon Use Reduction @ Brown

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Brown's Project HeatSave takes advantage of National Grid rebates for programmable thermostats

The ProJo newsblog reports:

According to a press release, the scorecard examines these six state energy efficiency policy areas: (1) utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation polices; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) state government initiatives; and (6) appliance efficiency standards. States can earn up to 50 possible points in these six policy areas combined.

The Ocean State earned 27.5 points, and moved up two spots from last year. We held fairly well in the categories of Utility and Public Benefits Efficiency Programs and Policies (9th), Transportation, Building and Energy Codes, and Appliance Efficiency Standards. On the other hand, came up short in State Government Initiatives and Combined Heat and Power.

Within Utility and Public Benefits Efficiency Programs and Policies we did poorly in the Targets subcategory. The report notes that: “Rhode Island has a legislative requirement enacted for electric and gas utilities to acquire all cost-effective energy efficiency that costs less than new energy supply as the first priority resource, placing it first in a utility’s resource “loading order” and greatly increasing the role of energy efficiency in utility long-term planning.” This was implemented in ‘06, but with no approximate annual savings target in place.

As far as decoupling, we’re the only ones in the top 10 who do not have a like mechanism in place for either Electricity or Natural Gas (our neighbors all have both).  Luckily we do have performance incentives in place for both.

In Transit, we are lacking in State Transit Funding (surprise!) and in High-Efficiency Vehicle Consumer Incentives (is that a cue for PGR?). Happily we’re one of the 14 states who joined California in adopting some dope GHG Vehicle Emission Standards.

State Government Initiatives, one of my favs. The subcategories: Financial and Information Incentives (out of 3), Lead by Example: Building Requirements (out of 1), Lead by Example: Efficient Fleets (out of 1), RD&D (out of 2).
And RI? The score: 0 … 1 …. 1…. 0. Disappointing. But still a nice time to highlight Rep Dennigan/Senator DiPalma’s Green Buildings Act this year (House Bill 5355/ Senate Bill 232). requiring that all new state buildings and renovations meet LEED Silver, including schools.

Doesn't help much to blow it up, either. At least we have a clear view of how we stand against archrival states, Texas and Vermont.

For your viewing pleasure, a nearly illegible graphic. Are you more surprised that Texas beat us or that we’re 26 spots ahead of Vermont?

The report in its entirety is well organized and definitely worth a skim for those who’ve been talking about the rejuventation of RISCC and developing some ambitious climate change state legislation, in the vein of this years Global Warming Climate Solutions Act.

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There’s a video rebroadcast of the whole thing in case you missed it.

Anticipating the Friday arrival of President Barack Obama at MIT, members of the MIT community noted both the significance of the visit and the gravity of its purpose.

Hundreds of visitors including Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick were expected to be present at noon in Kresge Auditorium for President Obama’s remarks on “American leadership in clean energy.” The talk comes as Congress gears up for hearings on clean energy legislation and as negotiators from around the world prepare for December’s U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen.

Prior to speaking in Kresge, the president was due to tour a research lab on campus.

Among those planning to watch the president in Kresge was Forgan McIntosh, co-president of the MIT Energy Club and an MIT Sloan School of Management MBA student. McIntosh said he was frustrated that the battle over health care reform had crowded out the public debate over energy policy, and said he was looking to Obama’s speech to jump-start progress on redefining the government’s role in the energy sector and Washington’s leadership position in the global race for clean energy competitiveness.

“I hope Obama’s speech signals a recommitment by the White House to address energy issues on a first-priority basis,” he said.

Via MITnews

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Boo bad tire inflation!

Danielle Dahan reports at tonight’s meeting of the CCURB Action Team that emPower-born, CCURB-funded, student-run Pump It Up! worked at the first gas station of the fall last Friday.

The team of four returned to the Exxon on Smith St, right across from the State House in Providence. They plan to station there every Sunday afternoon from 12 pm to 2 pm.

Sporting the brand-new official project T-shirts, Dahan said they were taken more seriously than in trial runs last spring. Drivers were willing to have them approach their vehicles and pump tires, ensuring proper inflation.

She observed, also, that a lot of people came to re-inflate tires with a slow leak. Pump It Up! will brainstorm ways to address this issue. If you have suggestions, or want to get involved, please email her (danielle_dahan@brown.edu).

For more information, please visit the project website.

Photo: Clemson via flickr under a Creative Commons License

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