China Gets Rolling on Carbon Trading

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23316

China's prime minister confirmed the country will increase the amount of non-fossil fuel energy it uses to 11.4% by 2015, and will "vigorously" develop renewable energy as part of its 5-Year Plan. 8.4% of China's electricity came from non-fossil fuel sources in 2010....

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China's five year plan also calls for reducing carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product (carbon intensity) 17% by 2015.

To achieve that, China's planning agency, The National Development and Reform Commission, informed seven provinces and cities they need to set emissions caps to prepare for the country's pilot carbon trading program.  They must submit proposals explaining how they will allocate emission permits to achieve the caps, establish a dedicated fund to support the carbon market, and develop a detailed implementation plan, according to Reuters.  Beyond the seven official pilots, 100 other regions and cities want to start carbon exchanges.  Guangdong province has already received approval for its plan....

China is also seriously considering a carbon tax.

For now, China's massive use of coal continues to outstrip its growing use of renewable energy. Coal still provides 70% of electricity, almost half of that burned on our planet. If current use continues, it's on track to consume five billion tons of coal a year by 2020, up from 3.2 billion tons in 2010, reports The Guardian.

Alarmed by the rapid increase, the National Energy Administration is calling for a cap on energy consumption - below 4.1 billion tons of coal equivalent a year by 2015.

In related news, China approved a $913 billion, 300 megawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of its northern Hebei province, to be online before the end of 2015.  China could soon issue a second RFP for 2 GW of offshore wind. The plan is to have 5 GW by 2015, amounting to 5% of total wind capacity.

Here are details of China's 5-Year Plan: http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22006

FOR FULL STORY GO TO:
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23316 
www.SustainableBusiness.com
January 17, 2012

Userful to Demo Ultra-Low-Cost School Computing Solution at BETT 2012

http://userful.com/press/bett-multiseat-linux

Userful, "the world leader in Linux desktop virtualization", will be demonstrating the next generation of their Userful MultiSeat™ solution which turns one Linux computer into multiple high performance independent computer stations using the HP t200 thin client device, a multiseat device that can be connected either via USB or Ethernet using Userful's software. Userful MultiSeat enables schools to deploy more than twice as many computers for the same cost, while enabling multiple users to use different applications at the same time from one host computer, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The new product truly redefines the cost of a full featured high performance computer.

Userful MultiSeat enables schools to quickly deploy large numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the classroom, computer lab, or school library. It is easy to set up, use and maintain, and provides teachers with the tools they need to give their students a high quality computer-based education. It dramatically reduces electricity use, paying for the computers in power savings alone in 4 years or less, and reduces environmental heat, noise and pollution at the same time. It also reduces infrastructure costs, by requiring fewer cables and fewer electrical outlets, and enables schools to reinvest by starting new computer labs with the computers recovered as a result of a MultiSeat computing upgrade.

"Userful is shaping the future of economically and environmentally sustainable educational computing," said Tim Griffin, President of Userful. "We've already done the world's largest ever desktop virtualization deployment, and one of the largest digital inclusion initiatives in the world. Userful is the perfect solution for anyone who wants the benefits of desktop virtualization, without the price tag."

More than 50,000 schools worldwide are already using Userful MultiSeat to provide millions of students with computer access. Userful has proven to be the computer solution of choice for governments with digital inclusion mandates to provide school age children with computer access, on limited budgets. Countries such as Brazil, who have already successfully deployed over 500,000 Userful computer stations to schools in every municipality, have shown that with the combined cost savings of Userful MultiSeat, Linux, and open source software, it is feasible to provide every student with a comprehensive education using computers, regardless of whether they live in a city or a remote indigenous village with little infrastructure. The Brazilian Ministry of Education has reported saving 60% in up-front costs, and 80% in annual power savings as compared to their previous PC-per-station solutions.

Userful MultiSeat Linux allows each student to individually control their own computer station and applications. To the students, it seems like they each have their own dedicated computer. In reality they are all sharing the resources of a single host computer. It's high performance, and set up is Plug-And-Play. Ten students can engage in multiple activities such as watching a full-screen video, exploring Google Earth, conducting research on the internet or using a word processor. It is easy to add new computer stations and teachers can easily expand the number of stations in their lab or classroom in minutes. Since it's Linux based, hundreds of educational software applications are available at no charge, including classroom computer management software for teachers. Teachers also don't need to worry about downtime. In the event that a host computer fails, teachers can simply move (hot-swap) the station cable to one of the other computers in the lab/classroom and the students can resume working.

Every ministry of education worldwide is eligible for a free 90 day pilot so that educators can easily experience first hand the high performance, and ease of use of the solution.

To arrange a demo, meeting, or interview at BETT, please e-mail karl@userful.com, or phone +1.403.289.2177 x218

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information, visit http://userful.com/products/userful-multiseat-linux

For more information on the HP t200 multiseat device, visit: HP t200 Product Information
http://userful.com/press/bett-multiseat-linux
Press Release dated January 3, 2011

Commercial energy efficiency retrofits in the Greater Philadelphia region could spur $618 million in local spending, support 23,500 jobs

http://gpichub.org/hublog/commercial-energy-efficiency-retrofits-in-region-could-spur-618-million-in-local-spending-support-23-500-jobs
A report released on November 6, 2011 estimates that nearly half of the commercial buildings in the Greater Philadelphia region are good candidates for energy efficiency retrofits, and that undertaking these retrofits could spur $618 million in local spending and support 23,500 jobs. Another report details the policies and programs already undertaken in the region to encourage retrofits, and outlines additional proven steps that could help the region take advantage of this economic opportunity.

“These reports provide ample evidence that the Philadelphia region is well-situated to take advantage of the economic opportunities inherent in energy efficiency retrofits. Removing barriers and employing new policy tools to spur retrofits will not only save energy, but also grow jobs and stimulate the regional economy” said Dr. Mark Alan Hughes of the University of Pennsylvania, and leader of the Policy, Markets and Behavior task team for the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) for Energy-Efficient Buildings, which commissioned the reports.

GPIC is a consortium of 24 institutions funded by $129 million in U.S. Department of Energy and other federal funds to create an Energy Innovation Hub at The Navy Yard. GPIC’s goals are to transform the building retrofit industry toward an integrated systems approach, to improve design tools, building systems, public policies, market incentives, and workforce skills needed to achieve a 50 percent reduction of energy use in buildings, and to stimulate private investment and quality job creation in Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

“The Market for Commercial Property Energy Retrofits in the Philadelphia Region”, conducted by Econsult Corporation, identifies 47 percent of the commercial and flex-industrial space between 20,000 and 100,000 square feet in the Philadelphia area for which data is available as potential candidates for energy retrofits. The eligible space includes 4,201 buildings with 154m square feet of space. The report compiled information on commercial building age, type, enclosure, materials, energy load, and owner concentration in the region.

The second report, authored by Cozen O’Connor staff, is entitled “Policy and Process Factors Impacting Commercial Building Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”. The factors examined include laws, regulations, financial incentives, contracts, public bidding requirements and more. The study concluded that while Pennsylvania and New Jersey have enacted many of the available policy levers that could help encourage energy efficiency retrofits, there are still numerous direct and indirect barriers in place.

Additionally, the study found that processes necessary for full valuation of energy efficiency improvements are immature, causing increased transaction costs and making investments less valuable.
...
The typical Philadelphia commercial property spends $2.84/ft per foot per year on energy costs. By contrast, the average U.S. commercial property spends $2.21 per foot per year. Thus, Philadelphia’s energy expenditures are 29% above than the national average, and the fourth highest among 14 large cities studied as shown in the table below.

To narrow the universe to identify the "lowest hanging fruit," the study filtered properties by their end use, construction materials, and shape. The optimal candidate for energy improvements would be an older, low-rise brick building.

Not all buildings consume energy equally. Flex-industrial buildings, including warehouses, account for about 53 percent of the structures studied. But they consume about half the energy per square foot as the average commercial building, such as an office.

The study identified 2,047 buildings as retail, hospitality, or health-care businesses, which consume more energy, according to federal statistics cited by Econsult.

The authors said that lower-rise buildings - with fewer than six floors - are more cost-effective candidates for improvements.  Using data and findings from Emmerich, et al that suggest primary energy savings (HVAC) from reducing air infiltration averages 20-30% is only cost-effective for low-to-mid-rise buildings of five stories or less, the authors determined that buildings five stories or below in height are likely candidates for envelope or enclosure improvements, irrespective of age.

Buildings that depend on electric lighting rather than daylight for interior illumination are good candidates for improvements.  According to the Energy Star building manual (2006), electric lighting accounts for upwards of 35% of electricity use in commercial buildings.  If more than 50% of a building’s floor area is not daylit, then the building must necessarily utilize an above-average amount of synthetic lighting as a necessary substitute, and hence it is likely to cost-effectively benefit from an energy load retrofit.

Masonry buildings are likelier to have more exterior gaps and benefit from improvements rather than steel-and-glass buildings.

The authors narrowed the focus to those buildings owned by the 25 largest commercial landlords for the "purely practical" reason that it will be easier for GPIC to deal with a few owners of multiple properties if its goal is to maximize its impact.

It whittled the prime list down to 232 larger buildings totaling about 50 million square feet, mostly in the commercial corridors of inner-ring suburbs such as Pennsauken, Valley Forge, Plymouth Meeting, Malvern, and Mount Laurel. The buildings were also concentrated in industrial corridors in Thorofare, Bridgeport, Hamilton, Bristol, Northeast Philadelphia near Philadelphia International Airport, and at the Navy Yard.

The reports and supporting materials can be found at https://gpichub.org/activities/policy/gpic-reports.

Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) http://gpichub.org 

November 6, 2011

Aggregates in England—Economic contribution and environmental cost of indigenous supply

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420711000419
Abstract: Aggregates represent one of the largest material flows in the UK economy; however, the importance of these minerals in underpinning economic activity is frequently not recognised. Features such as the spatial imbalance between resources and demand centres, exacerbated by changes in demographics and public perception, are placing increased pressure on the planning system to maintain supply. This paper sets out the direct and indirect economic contributions made by the indigenous aggregates industry to the English economy through Gross Value Added and employment sustained. It describes the key role of aggregates in construction activities, assesses the links between infrastructure development and economic growth. In 2005, aggregates extraction directly contributed £810 million of Gross Value Added to the English economy. Primary aggregates are, however, extracted at a cost to the environment and this cost, based on amenity value reduction, is estimated by updating previously published contingent valuation data. Estimates for the costs associated with carbon dioxide emissions are derived from values published by the European Union and, separately, by the UK Government. These two elements combined result in an environmental cost of indigenous extraction of £445 million in 2005. Additionally, an examination of the potential for a significant increase in the level of aggregate imports into England is made and the consequences assessed. This includes an evaluation of shipping costs and port capacity, and concludes that there are significant barriers to any substantial increase in the level of aggregate imports into England. As a consequence, indigenous supply is likely to predominate into the foreseeable future.

Highlights
► Aggregates are essential for the provision of infrastructure necessary to ensure economic growth.
► The aggregates industry in England directly contributed £810 million in GVA and provided 8300 jobs.
► The environmental cost was estimated to be in the range £387–445 million.
► With imports of aggregates limited by port capacity indigenous supplies will continue to be needed.
► This need for indigenous supplies creates an ongoing challenge for the planning system in England.

by Teresa Brown 1, Fiona McEvoy 1 and John Ward 2
1. British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK; Tel.: +44 0 115 936 3499; fax: +44 0 115 936 3520.
2. Centre for Economics and Business Research, Unit 1, 4 Bath Street, London EC1V 9DX, UK; Present address: Vivid Economics Ltd., The Old Dairy, 13b Hewer Street, London W10 6DU, UK.
Resources Policy via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 36, Issue 4; December, 2011; Pages 295-303
Keywords: Aggregates; Construction; Economy; England

Adobe-style builds ensure greater efficiencies in Afghanistan

http://www.army.mil/article/69907/Adobe_style_builds_ensure_greater_efficiencies_in_Afghanistan/
Adobe-style building structures are becoming more commonplace as coalition strategists see them as being better suited for the Afghan National Security Forces.

Such builds, for example, are being incorporated with the 4th Zone Afghan Border Police, Injil District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan. But that is not the only place, as they are becoming more popular across the country spurred by the deadline to transition responsibilities for security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces by 2014.

At the 4thZone AFB compound, the adobe-style construction using mud/clay/straw is prevalent. This offers reduced costs and provides the Afghan National Security Forces with sustainable, locally repairable construction. The easier maintenance generates lower lifecycle costs.

The builds have many advantages and do not incorporate western-style construction, which does not offer Afghans the ability to easily repair, maintain, and save money in the long term.

"Our Afghan contractors came to us and said they didn't understand containerized builds and that they could have built a more permanent concrete masonry unit structure cheaper and in less time," explained Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Overtree, senior engineer for Regional Support Command-West. "We further looked around and asked why are we making [western builds in] a country where only 13 percent of the population has electrical power or air-conditioning?"

Afghan-style facilities and customs are not familiar to western engineers, so U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Air Force Center for Engineering Excellence and our Coalition partners initially built what they knew, Overtree said.

However, as long-term concerns are taken into consideration, this Regional Support Command initiative of adobe-style builds make the most sense for several reasons.

"First and foremost it is what the Afghans and their contractors know," Overtree said. "Prime example, we were constructing a project and were approached by the garrison commander, an infantry colonel, who told us about a problem with the Afghan mud on one of the buildings. Not only did he know there was a problem, he knew what was causing the problem and where to find the proper materials to fix the problem."

Many times the Afghans don't know there is a problem with western builds until they completely fail, and then they don't how to fix the problem, Overtree explained.

And, the Afghan-style builds are easy to maintain, using local materials and labor, even troop labor, he said.

With the Afghan-style builds, the two-foot thick masonry walls used provide a high "R-Value" which results a very low transfer of heat, Overtree said.

The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. Under uniform conditions it is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator and heat transfer per unit area, internet sources stated.

"In layman's terms without any form of air-conditioning, there is a 20 to 25 degree fahrenheit difference between the inside and outside of the building at the hottest and coldest parts of the day," Overtree said of the adobe builds. "This means only fans and pot-belly wood stoves are needed for heating and cooling. This is the same way the Afghans heat and cool their homes."

The buildings take advantage and match the local environment, something the West forgot 70 years ago when we discovered air-conditioning, he said.

"Prior to the 1940s, we built houses and buildings to match the environment, Cape Cods, Plantation houses, haciendas, etc.," Overtree said.

The builds are also natural bunkers with the two-foot thick walls, Overtree said. They can take multiple rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire and can easily be repaired afterward.

Additionally, from an economic view, the builds offer incredible savings.

"On average, based on comparable projects built by the US Corps of Engineers and Air Force Center for Engineering Excellence, these RSC adobe builds save 75 percent of the life cycle costs," Overtree said. "This means for the projects we have done this year using this concept, we will save over $1 billion over the life of the facilities."

Any disadvantages?

Apparently not. "That's why they have been building this way for millennia," he said.

The dividends are evident at the 4th Zone Afghan Border Police compound.

The 1,900-man compound is low energy and efficient, currently powered only by a 33 kilowatt generator, Overtree said.

By Jon Connor, DCOM-Regional Support, NTM-A/CSTC-A Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army www.army.mil
November 25, 2011