Sheldon Crossing - Philadelphia's First Electric Car Charger

Sheldon Crossing in Manayunk (Philadelphia) Pa offers the latest in GREEN LIVING.   In addition to being LEED certified they offer a Coulomb Technologies electric  car charging station.

" ... will earn a Platinum LEED certification ... homes will use less energy, water, and natural resources ... "

Features include " ... solar panels, vegetative green roofs, insulation, plumbing, HVAC, water purification and smart home automation ..."

The model home's Charging Station for electric vehicles is the first in the city of Philadelphia.  Picture >>>>>


Via:  Sheldon Crossing  LINK and Philadelphia Inquirer LINK

Philadelphia Single Stream Recycling Now Accepts all Recyclable Plastics

Most municipalities accept #1 - PET and #2 - HDPE plastics for recycling.  Philadelphia now accepts #3 -#7 as well! This means #3 - Vinyl, #4 - LDPE, #5 - PP, #6 - PS and #7 - other / mixed.

" ... Philadelphia has citywide single stream recycling. ... all recyclables can be put in the same container, including plastics and cardboard."  This makes it easier for residents and business as there is no more sorting into different containers at home.

There is even a section about debunking Phila Recycling Myths ... that gives the real info on recycling in the City.

Check out the web site for information you can use no matter where you live !



Via:  Recycle Now Philadelphia LINK

Braxton's Animal Works (Devon, PA) Goes Green with LED Lighting

Braxton's in Devon, PA (western suburbs of Philadelphia) is a 3rd generation family business.  We buy a lot of our dog stuff there ... one day I noticed a sign outside touting their "green-ness" by installing LED lighting.

Their lighting solution came from LED Saving Solutions of Devon, PA..
After installing LED lighting their electric  bill went from over $750 / month to around $100 / month.  Projected lifetime savings are over $260,000 as well as eliminating 100,00 lbs of carbon emissions.


Via: LED Saving Solutions LINK

Philadelphia is becoming well known for  its green activities ... including solar powered compacting trash bins (the BIG BELLY) that can signal when they are full and need to be emptied.

They are also upgrading standard traffic signals with ones that contain LED light "bulbs".

LEDs are even more energy efficient and longer lasting than CFBs - and do not contain any mercury.

" ... funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).  ... reducing energy use and costs, ... and furthering the City’s sustainability priorities."

"Replacing 85,000 traffic lights with new, low energy LED lights."


Via:  Phila.gov LINK

Philadelphia's Bourse Building Goes Solar !

Philadelphia's Bourse building is both historic and modern ... it was Philadelphia's first exchange and now has gone Solar.

The old Bourse Building on Independence Mall East has solar panels with mountiug systems from SolarDock of Wilmington, Delaware.  These roof panels are designed to not impact the integrity of the roof of the historic building.


" ... SolarDock system for mounting the panels without any penetration of the roof surface ... "

This allows mounting in locations where there is concern about leaks in the roof or a roof warranty that does not allow for through roof mounts.

Via:  Delaware Business Blog LINK

Philadelphia Pa. Wins 3rd Annual Sustainable Community Award for a Large Community

Mayor Michael Nutter has been promoting Philadelphia's green activities and now the city is being recognized by others as well.

" ... Mayor Michael A. Nutter. ... encouraged by the momentum behind our sustainability efforts, ... look forward to aggressively continuing our work to promote market transformation in energy efficiency retrofitting and growing the green economy.”

"... training our workforce to install solar panels and cool roofs, and we’re putting Philadelphians to work weatherizing homes and installing green stormwater management infrastructure."

Via: City of Philadelphia  LINK

Phila Pa Green Business Program

 Real Estate developers are seeing the value in being able to offer sustainable green buildings.

"Aegis Property Group ... integrating energy and environmental leadership principals and practices into its development management services capabilities. ...Corporate commitment to LEED program. ...an active leadership role ... in the Green Building Council ... continuing education in green principles and LEED ... Advocacy of green principles ... as appropriate in our client’s projects."

"Sustainable design, construction and operation ... is no longer a luxury - it is an absolute necessity."



Via:  AEGIS Property Group  LINK

Springside School Encourages Waste Reduction

Springside School's colors are blue and gold.  They are making blue + gold into GREEN.  A good life lesson in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Waste Free Wednesday Lunch Initiative

 BLUE + GOLD = GREEN

" ... The Sustainability Committee has decided to step up Springside's efforts to reduce the amount of trash that goes into landfills. Students are encouraged every day, but especially on Wednesdays, to compost, recycle, and eat as much of what they brought/bought to create as little waste as possible. In time, this will become something that naturally occurs every day!"

Via: Springside School LINK

Springside School: Largest Solar Installation in Philadelphia

Springside School - Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia has the largest solar installation in the city of Philadelphia. You can see the solar progress with the monitoring station ... the system has the capacity of 92.4 kW DC.

As of May 15th, 2010 the system has generated 21,201 kWH - equivalent to powering 2 homes for a year. See the current operation / historical data at LINK.

Via: Springside School LINK

White Roofs Help Keep Philadelphia Cool and Green

Philadelphia is out to become America's greenest city.  RetroFIT PHILLY is part of the plan to lead the nation's cities in "greenness".

" ... RetroFIT PHILLY "Coolest Block" contest ... with product and technology contributions from The Dow Chemical Company ... invites row home owners to enter to win energy-saving cool roof, air sealing and insulation upgrades for their entire block."

"... Greenworks Philadelphia  goal is to retrofit 15 percent of the city's row home roofs, and the 'Coolest Block' contest is jumpstarting this effort," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter...."

" ... White cool roofs, ... bounce off solar energy to prevent it from being absorbed into the roof and house in the summer. ... they reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the living space and bring the cost of cooling a home down by as much as 20 percent."


" ... cool roofs are a proven way to combat urban heat island effect. The roof's exterior is 50 – 80 degrees cooler on hot summer days, helping to lower high temperatures and improve air quality. ..."


Via: The Dow Chemical Company  LINK

ReStore - Supplies for a Green Remodeling

ReStore, a Philadelphia, Pa "... architectural salvage clearing house, was opened with a commitment to respect the resources of the environment by prolonging the life of usable materials. ReStore, in Philadelphia, PA., offers architectural salvage, deconstruction services as well as design consultations." See the video for an idea of the kinds of items available for sale ... making architecturally interesting items available and keeping usable materials out of landfill. A win-win. Via: ReStore.com LINK

FarmEcology - Local Food for U of Penn Students

Penn students are taking an active role in bringing local foods into their dining halls ... one shining example is FarmEcology which connects the schools with local farms ... and has spread to other colleges and universities.

" ... FarmEcology is a student-initiated endeavor that is raising awareness and educating Penn's campus about the benefits of local foods. ... co-founders, Emma Kirwan and Rachel Meyer, spent the past semester exploring and researching opportunities for connecting the University with local farms, contacting regional food experts for advice, and researching similar programs that are developing across the country at similar institutions."

" ... Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Yale are all in various stages of planning or have already implemented local food programs in campus-run dining halls. ... FarmEcology is one step in an overall University effort to continue a "green campaign" which was launched in 2002 with the purchase of wind energy."

Via: University of Pennsylvania FarmEcology LINK

Zwahlens - Audubon Pa Ice Cream Shop Get Solar Powered

Zwahlen's is a local (Audubon PA) ice cream and chocolate establishment that just so happens to have the first commercial use of SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile Roof.
I was driving past the store last evening when my son told me about the sign on the front that said --- something along the lines "the best ice cream under the sun is now powered by the sun". I needed to check this out ...
" SRS Energy, ...installed ... the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems, ... the first commercial installation of the Sole Power Tile(TM) system ..."

"T...a great example of how time-tested traditions and cutting-edge technology can meet to create something beautiful," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy and owner of Zwahlen's. "

" ... designed to blend seamlessly with several styles of US Tile's clay tiles, providing energy without the use of traditional solar panels that can compromise a building's roofline and curb appeal. ... preserves Zwahlen's charming Swiss chalet look."

"SRS Energy recently introduced the Sole Power Tile(TM) system to the greater Philadelphia region at the PV America show, held at the Pennsylvania Convention center during the week of June 7, 2009."
SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile can generate 500 Watts per sq ft.
Via: EarthTimes LINK
Via: SRS Energy LINK

Bike Parking Required for new Zoning Permits in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is becoming more bike friendly. A recent City Council bill, # 090190, " ... require bicycle parking for new zoning permits. ... legislation was developed by the Bicycle Coalition and the Nutter Administration ... prompted by a Bicycle Coalition report ... on Philadelphia's bike parking shortage ..."

" ... four page fact sheet ... download the Fact Sheet and give it your property manager to encourage him/her to install bike racks in office building."

" ... Philadelphia Parking Authority installed bike racks at three of its Center City garages. ... Academy of Sciences committed to installing racks ... Philadelphia's Division of Aviation committed to installing ... racks at PHL ... the Streets Department issued a "notice to proceed" for ... 1400 new inverted U racks to be installed throughout the city. ..."

Making it easier to safely park a bike will help reduce car trips, save energy, and reduce pollution in Philadelphia.


Via: Philadelphia Bike Coalition LINK

Phila City Council Proposes Bill to Require Recyclable / Compostable Bags

The City of Philadelphia City Council has a bill proposed that will ban plastic bags in grocery stores. Bill # 090074 was introduced by Councilmembers DiCicco and Kenney to amend Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Service and Other Businesses,” ... with a new Section 9-614, entitled “Mandatory Use of Recyclable and Compostable Checkout Bags,”.

Basically the City wants to mandate the use of recyclable and / or compostable bags by most businesses ... the bill details which businesses (by type and size) are exempt. The bill details what it expects in terms of recyclable and compostable plastic bags.

The bill would become valid 6 months after passage ... fines would be $100 for the first offense and then $300 for the second offense in the same year and then $500 for each additional offense in the same year!


Via: City Council of Philadelphia LINK

GreenWorks Philadelphia

Philadelphia has been making great strides in becoming a greener city. They have been able to increase the participation rate for curbside residential recycling by going to a co-mingled stream ... and there is more to come.

Philadelphia has the goal of becoming the "Greenest City in America ...
ambitious goal that Mayor Michael A. Nutter has set for Philadelphia ... an opportunity to reposition and repurpose Philadelphia as a city of the future. ... Philadelphia's dense and durable stock of housing, infrastructure and amenities position us to prosper in a carbon-constrained future. ... Greenworks Philadelphia as its guide, 21st century Philadelphia will face the challenges and opportunities created by recent global shifts and reposition itself as a city of the future."

Via: Phila.gov LINK