New Ecological Footprint Calculator from Earth Day Network

 

EARTH DAY NETWORK LAUNCHES NEW, IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

 

Washington, DC – Earth Day Network, an international environmental advocacy organization and a recognized leader in the field of carbon footprint measurement, has just released its newest tool to combat climate change: The Ecological Footprint Calculator. Set to debut on August 25, 2008, the Footprint Calculator is intended to raise environmental consciousness in an educational, user-friendly, and fun way.  

 

Created by the originators of the ecological footprint, Global Footprint Network, the calculator provides users with a three-dimensional avatar of their choosing, and situates them on a block in a virtual neighborhood. The user is then taken through a series of questions about her food consumption, energy use, favorite mode of transportation, type of residence, recycling commitment, and spending habits. Using a scroll bar, users can approximate their usage with pithy sayings like, “I’m a farmer’s market friend but I really like potato chips,” indicating, in this case, that she eats local foods often-- but not always.

 

“It’s fun to use and really conveys a powerful message,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “Anyone who logs on to our site can determine what a big impact their unique combination of personal habits has on their environment, and what they can do about it.”

 

Results are shown first in relative terms; after the Footprint Calculator analyzes a user’s living habits, it tells her how many “planets” would be necessary to sustain human life- if everyone lived just like her. The users are also shown how many acres of land and tons of carbon necessary to sustain their lifestyle. They are then given the option of revisiting the quiz to see where they “went wrong”, and given suggestions on how to reduce their carbon footprint.

 

“I like that it not only suggests ways to change your habits, but also shows the measurable impact small changes on a personal level can create,” adds Rogers.

 

Earth Day Network’s Ecological Footprint Calculator has been used by tens of millions around the world to evaluate their environmental impact and make lifestyle changes to reduce it. A powerful educational tool aimed to generate critical thinking and inspire younger generations to choose a sustainable lifestyle.

 

To take the quiz, visit www.earthday.net/ecofootprint. The new Footprint Calculator has launched with measures for the United States and Australia only, but new batch of countries will be available by the end of the year.

 

About Earth Day Network

 

Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet.  It pursues these goals through education, politics, and consumer activism. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries.  More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

Get an eco-education at the Green Building Festival

 

        

Media Release   
Attn: Energy Efficiency/Green Building/Lifestyle/City Reporters and Editors

Get an eco-education at the Green Building Festival
Festival returns with must-attend workshops

Canada's largest annual green building event is gearing up for another year with an expanded seminar program.

Festival organizers are very excited to introduce two innovative workshops offering a practical look at the green building trend sweeping the real estate and residential construction markets.  Festival Manager Jeff Ranson anticipates high attendance at both sessions. 

"Eco-friendly housing is in huge demand.  Home builders and Real-Estate Professional need tools to address the demand for environmentally responsible options, and that's what we aim to provide.  We want to make green know-how accessible to everyone - our seminars help us do that," says Ranson.

The Green Home Building workshop runs from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on September 10th.  This session, delivered by Paul Duffy and John Godden of the Canadian Residential Energy Services Network, will give home-builders an understanding of energy efficiency, environmental standards and green labels, and how to implement green building technologies. 

The Green Real-Estate Workshop is scheduled from 1:00 to 4:30 pm on September 10th.  Geared toward real estate professionals, and presented by Green Realtor Chris Chopik, the session will focus on: how climate change is affecting the real estate market, what labeling programs mean for home-owners, and incentive programs that are available to green home buyers.

"It's important for both home-builders and realtors to understand green building," Ranson adds.  "Our seminars will provide delegates with the tools they need to build greener homes and realize the value of building green."  

The Green Building Festival is scheduled for September 9 - 10 2008 at the Toronto Convention Centre on Dixon Road.   The show will feature high-quality, in-depth programming for building professionals with case studies, product analyses and 100 exhibitors offering ready-to-market green building solutions. 

A full schedule of workshops and seminars is available at www.greenbuildingfest.com/schedule.asp.

Admission to the trade show portion of the Festival on September 10th is free.  Early bird registration for the Festival Sessions is open until August 1st.   There are also a limited number of student passes available.  Visit
www.greenbuildingfest.com/pricing-and-registration.asp for details.


Inquires about the Green Building Festival can be directed to:

Jeff Ranson, Festival Manager
416.364.0050 ext.303 or jeff(at)innovolve.com

Media inquires can be directed to:

Tina Siegel, e|c|o
416.972.7401 or tsiegel(at)huffstrategy.com


The Green Building Festival was created in 2005 as the Toronto Regional Green Building Festival by Sustainable Buildings Canada, The Canada Green Building Council Toronto Chapter, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and The Canadian Urban Institute. The program is developed by Sustainable Buildings Canada, and the event is managed by The Innovolve Group.

For Event Calendar and Schedule listings:
The fourth annual Green Building Show takes place at Toronto's Congress Centre on Dixon Road, September 9-10, 2008.  Come and see cutting, edge, market ready strategies, products and tools to help you inject some green into your business.  Agenda and registration details are available at www.greenbuildingfest.com.

The latest environmental media advisories and releases through RSS - http://feeds.feedburner.com/Huffstrategy

SOYBEAN URINALS GENERATE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST

SOYBEAN URINALS GENERATE
CONSIDERABLE INTEREST

More Manufactures to Emphasize Sustainability

Vista, CA -August 11, 2008-Waterless Co. LLC reports a surge in both sales
orders and requests for sales information after the company introduced a new
line of soybean urinals approximately four weeks ago.

According to Niki Bradley, marketing manager for Waterless Co. LLC, the
company did expect some excitement with the introduction, "but nothing like
what has happened in the past few weeks."

She attributes much of the interest to the fact that more and more
manufacturers-even the manufacturers of urinals-are looking for more
sustainable ways to produce products.

Waterless Co. is one of the largest manufacturers of no-water urinal systems
in the United States. As the name implies, the company's urinals require no
water and can save more than 40,000 gallons of water per urinal each year.

The soybean urinals are made from approximately 30 percent soybean resin,
which is a naturally sustainable resource.
Bradley adds that the soybean content in the urinals is expected to increase
in the near future.

There is no difference in appearance, function, or maintenance with the
soybean systems compared to other waterless urinals. The difference is
purely in the type of material used to manufacture the product. A label
placed on the urinal is the indication it is a soybean system.

"Our announcement just seemed to happen right as everyone is getting more
and more concerned about the bigger environmental picture of
sustainability," says Bradley.
"Over the next few years, we will probably see many products we use every
day reengineered with more sustainable components. These soybean urinals are
just a bit ahead of their time."

About Waterless
Waterless Co. LLC has established a reputation as an innovative
manufacturer, serving the building, plumbing, and janitorial industry for
over 15 years. Based in Vista, Ca, Waterless Co. offers quality, innovation
and expertise in water conservation and high efficiency products for
building owners with a full line of Waterless No-Flush urinals, cleaning
liquids, and cost saving accessories. Visit:
www.waterless.com

Waterless Co.
1050 Joshua Way
Vista, CA 92081 USA
888-NOFLUSH (888-663-5874)
sales@waterless.com

FW: Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Nation-Leading Green Building Code

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement on the California Building Standards Commission vote to adopt the nation’s first statewide green building code:

 

“By adopting this first-in-the-nation statewide green building code, California is again leading the way to fight climate change and protect the environment.  This is literally a groundbreaking move to ensure that when we break ground on all new buildings in the Golden State we are promoting green building and energy efficient new technologies. Cars and buildings are two of the leading users of energy – we’re already addressing cars, and these new building standards will ensure that California remains at the forefront of reducing our carbon footprint and conserving valuable natural resources while also protecting our economy. We have already committed to making our state-owned buildings more green and energy efficient and this statewide code will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve water in all new buildings.

 

“With today’s action, California continues to lead the nation and I commend the hard work of the Building Standards Commission to adopt the first-in-the-nation statewide green building standards.”

Watkins Glen Int'l goes Green with Wind Power!

 

Juice Energy helps Watkins Glen International race towards

greener, lower-priced electricity through new partnership

 

Watkins Glen International, one of the nation’s most historic racetracks, will soon be leading the way towards reducing their carbon footprint with the help of Juice Energy. The 60 year old raceway, known worldwide as “The Glen,” has signed a new contract with Juice in an effort to lower their ever-rising electricity costs, and limit the track’s impact on the environment.

 

Juice Energy, Inc. is a New York-based electricity supplier that utilizes unique methodologies to deliver electricity to their clients at the lowest possible rates. By constantly monitoring the energy markets, Juice creates custom solutions that bring the advantages of electricity competition to clients.

At the same time, Juice offers clients access to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, making them a popular choice for businesses looking to curb their environmental impact.

 

The new deal will cover all of The Glen’s electricity needs for the next three years. In addition, the track will become one of the first motor sports facilities in North America to adopt a greener electricity strategy with the purchase of wind power equal to 100% of their annual electric use. The green power purchase effectively offsets the track’s electricity related greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Craig Rust, President of Watkins Glen International, said the decision to go with Juice was an easy one: “It’s not everyday that we find a new business partner that brings as much to the table as Juice. We’re going to enjoy savings on electricity and take a major step forward in our plan to become a greener track.”

 

For Juice, it’s been a very busy year as they sign one new client after another. “Millions of people have enjoyed races at The Glen over the past 60 years. We’re really excited about our new involvement with this particular partner,” said Brian Hayduk, co-founder of Juice. “Our main priority is customer service, so we’ll probably have to stop by on race days to see how our strategies are working.”

 

About Juice:

 

Juice is a revolutionary energy company working solely on behalf of their clients. Operating in deregulated markets, Juice tailors rate structures and products to improve clients’ financial performance and carbon footprint. Juice brings energy portfolio management, transparency and new accountability measures, for the highest return at the lowest cost. www.aboutjuice.com

 

About Watkins Glen International:

 

Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary Season at Watkins Glen International are on-sale now! The stars of the IndyCar Series were at The Glen for the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6. The action continues with the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend highlights the summer action, August 7-10. For tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com.

 

 

If you would rather not receive future email messages from Juice Energy, let us know by clicking here.
Juice Energy, 333 Mamaroneck Avenue Suite 222, White Plains, NY 10605 United States

McGraw-Hill Construction Launches “HQ” to Inspire Workplace Effectiveness, Sustainability, and More

New print and online resource is designed to aid executives with design and building decisions

 

NEW YORK, NY (June 25, 2008) – McGraw-Hill Construction, in collaboration with BusinessWeek, both part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), are creating a new media resource for corporate executives, "HQ: Good Design is Good Business," which will debut November 2008 in print and online.

 

Building on the success of the BusinessWeek and Architectural Record "Good Design is Good Business" Awards, a biannual event held for the past 10 years, HQ will serve as a bridge between C-level executives, building owners and developers, and design and construction professionals by providing intelligence and inspiration for making informed decisions about buildings they lease, own or plan to build. The quarterly publication will feature case studies, showcasing corporate leaders who have positively affected their companies' workplace effectiveness and bottom-line, as well as the environment through sustainable design. The online resource will be a community-based platform, including new media offerings and a rich knowledge center filled with content from award-winning editors and thought-leaders.

 

The C-suite executive has a high participation rate for decision-making and stewardship for raising capital funds (56%) and for financing new buildings or building renovations (49%). According to a 2008 survey of C-level executives conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction, in collaboration with BusinessWeek, they are very aware of the impact good design can have on workforce recruitment and retention, as well as branding and community relations. Executives surveyed also responded positively to receiving information to help them navigate design, construction and usage decisions.

 

"There is a real need for this information, and HQ will fill that need," said Norbert W. Young, Jr., president, McGraw-Hill Construction. "To use sustainability as an example, we expect that 82% of companies will be greening at least 16% of their portfolios by 2009, but our research also demonstrates that there is a need for hands-on, practical information—real ways that companies can green existing facilities for a meaningful return."

 

"HQ will provide ways for executives to increase revenue and find and retain top talent," said Keith Fox, president, BusinessWeek. "A well-designed building can contribute to both the bottom-line and employee satisfaction. HQ is a one-of-a-kind resource that will answer crucial questions and expand conversations around design-related business issues, such as sustainability or branded environments."

 

About McGraw-Hill Construction

McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the design and construction industry. For more than a century, the Company has remained North America's leading provider of construction project information, plans and specifications, product information, industry news, and industry trends and forecasts. In print and online, the Company offers a variety of tools, applications, and resources that easily integrate with its customers' workflows. Backed by the power of Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record (ENR), GreenSource and 11 regional publications, McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers within the $4.6 trillion global construction community. To learn more, visit www.construction.com.

 

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Honeywell Takes the Guesswork Out of Green with its Renewable Energy Scorecard

PHOENIX, June 18, 2008 – As more organizations look to reduce their environmental impact, the interest in renewable energy technology has reached an all-time high. According to a recent report from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21^st Century, renewable energy use is growing much faster than 10 percent per year throughout the world. The generation capacity from solar photovoltaic systems alone was up 56 percent last year compared to 2006.

The challenge, however, comes with choosing the renewable technology that is good for the environment as well as the bottom line. A number of location-specific variables come into play — fuel availability, heating and cooling loads, utility rates, and rebates and tax incentives — making it difficult to identify the green solution that will deliver the greatest return on investment.

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced it has developed a first-of-its-kind selection tool that quickly provide customers with the data to make an informed buying decision. Unveiled at the annual Honeywell Users Group for Buildings conference, the Renewable Energy Scorecard^™ analyzes the variables for any given location to pinpoint the technology with the most significant environmental and economic drivers.

“Popular technology such as wind or solar power are often the default options for renewable energy, yet in some case they offer little if any economical return,” said Devin Castleton, Energy Group consulting analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “The Honeywell Scorecard is a unique tool that can help lead organizations directly to the technologies that offer the strongest economic drivers right away, providing an optimum advantage for organizations who are not only motivated by environmental stewardship but also by economic value.”

The tool looks at six proven renewable technologies, including solar, wind, biomass and geothermal. And it provides a simple payback for each. So it not only highlights the renewable resource with the greatest potential, but also provides an accurate financial forecast derived from calculating tax implications, rebates, subsidies and other incentives.

The Renewable Energy Scorecard is the output of a sophisticated energy profiling model built on a database that contains extensive information on each of the factors that influence the viability of the various technologies. This database provides Honeywell and its customers with an accurate vision and analysis of renewable energy at any location in North America.

“The Renewable Energy Scorecard is a data-driven solution to a complex issue,” said Kent Anson, vice president of global energy for Honeywell Building Solutions. “It’s important that environmental stewardship makes good business sense too. The Scorecard takes the guesswork out of the equation.”

The Renewable Energy Scorecard is part of an ongoing effort at Honeywell to help its customers maximize the use of renewable technologies and cut energy costs. Over the past three years, for example, Honeywell has helped a variety of customers — from colleges and hospitals to cities and the federal government — install biomass thermal and solar photovoltaic technology.

These projects are expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 21 million pounds and nitrous oxide emissions by 187,000 pounds. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 6,500 cars from the road or planting 8,100 acres of trees. The switch to a renewable energy source also is expected to help these customers trim millions from their utility bills.

Honeywell is a global leader in energy services, working with organizations to conserve energy, optimize building operations and leverage renewable energy sources. It was one of four energy services companies selected at the outset of the Clinton Climate Initiative to help the world’s largest cities reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This work has extended to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and other groups.

Since the 1980s, Honeywell has completed more than 5,000 energy-efficiency projects in facilities across the globe. It also has helped 5 million homeowners decrease their energy use through our work with utilities. Combined, this work is expected to deliver more than $5 billion in energy and operational savings.

Through demand- and supply-side improvements, Honeywell helps customers save 15 to 25 percent of their energy bill on average. These projects are often done through performance contracts, which allow organizations to pay for facility improvements and upgrades through the energy savings they generate. The savings are guaranteed by Honeywell so the work does not impact operating budgets. This and other funding mechanisms like power purchase agreements (PPAs) help remove the financial barriers many organizations face when looking to implement green initiatives.

“From project development to financing, we can help customers every step of the way, making the process as quick and easy as possible,” Anson said.

Nearly 50 percent of Honeywell’s product portfolio company-wide is linked to energy efficiency. The company estimates the global economy could operate on 10 to 25 percent less energy by using today’s existing Honeywell technologies.

Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please visit http://www.honeywell.com/. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

Recycled Motor Oils Help the Environment

 

LEOLA, PA – If you’re like many car owners, you pride yourself on getting an oil change every 3,000 miles to keep your car in top working condition. But, have you ever considered what happens to all the used motor oils drained from cars each day? Unfortunately, much of the oil is hauled away and disposed of, putting the environment at risk. Not so at Cloister Car Wash & Lube in Pennsylvania, where they recycle 40,000 gallons of used motor oil each year.

 

By recycling the used motor oil on site through Clean Burn Used-Oil Coil Tube Boilers, Cloister Car Wash & Lube is able to generate hot water for radiant floor heating and to use in the car wash along with hot air that’s pumped back to heat the company’s quick lube operation.

 

            “Clean Burn products help our company play a responsible environmental stewardship role in the communities where we operate,” says Mike Mountz, owner, Cloister Car Wash & Lube. “Transporting used oils from our facilities to disposal areas is an expensive effort that always contains the potential for spills and environmental contamination. By having our own used-oil recycling systems on site, we eliminate this liability while doing something positive with the used motor oils that are generated in our daily operations.

 

            “The boilers and furnaces from Clean Burn are a good fit for us from a business standpoint. More importantly, the units eliminate potential dangers to the local environment that can happen if used motor oils are not recycled properly. We live in the communities we operate in so our decision to recycle our own used-oil on site impacts each of us personally.”

 

            In addition to the positive environmental aspects, Cloister Car Wash & Lube has found that the energy generated from the Clean Burn units provides inexpensive hot water for its car wash operations and snow melt.

 

            “We’ve invested in Clean Burn units for the past 11 years because they’re a critical part of our successful operations,” says Mountz. “As we’ve grown in locations, we’ve added in used-oil coil tube boilers and hot air units as part of our standard practices. These units are an economical way for us to dispose of our used motor oils, transmission fluid and other fluids while gaining back on-site energy recovery. This makes a great deal of economic and environmental sense. I believe the return-on-investment is strong for any facility with oil change operations.”

 

Another company recycling used motor oil is McCormick Motors in Indiana. Before installing their Clean Burn used-oil recycling furnace in 1998, McCormick Motors paid to have 11,000 gallons of used motor oil removed from their facility each year. Today, with four furnaces in place, they remove just a 55 gallon drum of used-oil yearly. And, more impressively, they abandoned their old boiler system and have had flat energy bills for the past ten years while using energy from the recycled oil to heat their 40,000-square foot service center and showroom.

 

“We recycle almost 10,000 gallons of used-oils each year with our Clean Burn units,” according to Gordon Moore, vice president of McCormick Motors in Nappanee, Indiana. “The energy savings are significant. However, the most important aspect is that we’ve eliminated our liability for transporting the used-oils to a disposal site and we’re doing something positive for the environment.”

 

Clean Burn products are used widely in the truck fleet industry, by fast lube service centers, in automobile dealerships and in the heavy construction industry. In addition, the RV, home building and marine industries are also finding valuable uses for Clean Burn products to offset rising energy costs. Clean Burn’s Used-Oil Coil Tube Boilers recycle used oils into hot water technology for use in car washes, baseboard and in-floor heating, and ice melt applications. The company’s Low Profile Used-Oil Furnaces are ideal for small to mid-sized facilities, and those areas with limited ceiling heights. These systems can be utilized as unit heaters or can be ducted as central furnaces. Hot air discharge louvers can be installed to direct heat precisely where it’s needed in a facility.

 

For large auto or truck fleet service centers, the Clean Burn Large Volume Used-Oil Furnaces provide high volume heating capacity along with a patented true heat exchanger that delivers more heat. These systems can be used as unit heaters or can be ducted as central furnaces. Finally, the Used-Oil Recycling Center from Clean Burn is a self-contained, on-site recycling and heating system that allows businesses to store and burn used oil conveniently and efficiently. The Recycling Center works in tandem with Clean Burn used-oil furnaces and has a UL-listed 250 gallon storage tank that supplies oil to the furnace.

 

Clean Burn holds numerous industry certifications and works with the U.S. government, the Environmental Protection Agency and various associations to help coordinate the establishment of standards and regulations related to heat recovery and recycling efforts involving used motor oils. For more information on Clean Burn, visit www.cleanburn.com or call 1-800-331-0183.

Friday's Green Building Video

Here is your green building video for June 13, 2008 from iGreenBuild.com. Eco-Realty has arrived on the east end of Long Island, New York! In this video you'll learn about a builder who is refurbishing a 9,000-square foot home with just about every "green" upgrade possible and the property's realtor hopes to sell the home for upwards of $15 million. Regardless of what your green home budget is, this clip will give you and your architect some great design and product ideas.

Timing is everything and this issue is no exception. Don't miss our Sr. Editor Jerry Yudelson's latest book "Choosing Green, The Homebuyer's Guide to Good Green Homes." This is a first of it's kind.

KKE's design wins Gold in 50+ Housing competition

KKE’s design for Santa Barbara Palms wins Gold Award
in 2008 NAHB 50+ Housing competition

MINNEAPOLIS -- KKE Architects, Inc. won a Gold Award in the 2008 NAHB 50+ Housing Council for its design of Santa Barbara Palms, an affordable, energy-efficient, multi-housing property for seniors being built in the Las Vegas area. Held May 20th in New Orleans, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Best of 50+ Housing Awards are considered the premier design and marketing competition for the seniors housing industry.
 
Winning in the Multifamily “On the Boards” Income Qualified Rental category, the Santa Barbara Palms is configured into two three-story units, with a total of 120 one- and two-bedroom apartments. With total construction costs estimated at $20 million, the 120 units with rent-restricted, affordable leases are anticipated to start at $352/month when the property opens in August 2010.
 
Located in a mature Nevada neighborhood, Santa Barbara Palms enables residents to “age in place” near family, friends and familiar services. According to AARP, more than 84% of people age 50 and older want to stay in their homes as they age. NAHB’s research supports this and reports, “With 10,000 people turning 50 every single day and 50+ consumers accounting for more than one quarter of all new home sales, it's the fastest growing segment of the housing industry.”
 
A 2007 NAHB poll of housing-minded consumers found energy efficiency was a top concern. Helping Santa Barbara Palms conserve financial and environmental resources, the residential complex is designed in adherence with ENERGY STAR requirements. To earn ENERGY STAR certification, these homes must include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20% to 30% more efficient than standard homes and save up to 15% on energy costs. Toward this goal, Santa Barbara Palms showcases high-performance windows, reversible ceiling fans, a solar-heated outdoor pool, and water-conserving zeroscape desert landscaping.
 
To enjoy the natural setting, all apartments will provide residents with a patio or balcony. Additional amenities will include a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse that features a full kitchen, media/library room, computer/business center and Internet access, crafts room, billiards room, piano bar, laundry rooms, health room and fitness center, and a spa.
 
Architect Steve Rogers of KKE’s Las Vegas office noted that one of his major design challenges on the Santa Barbara Palms project was the site’s shape: “The challenge with long and narrow sites is trying to achieve the necessary density, while also maintaining comfortable open spaces for residents to dwell, both interior and exterior. By successfully marrying the two, Santa Barbara Palms creates an attractive appeal for the residents, and makes an affordable development live and feel like an upscale resort. It was very rewarding to design this project, pull it off, and be recognized for it.”
 
George Gekakis, Inc., the developer/builder of Santa Barbara Palms, has been building affordable senior housing in the Las Vegas Valley since the mid-1990s. “It is our commitment to provide a development of quality and safety for our residents; one that will be an asset to the neighborhood, and will be a force in the process of  relieving the problem of affordable housing in Las Vegas,” said Gekakis.
 
“The caliber of competition was high this year, both in the active adult and service-enriched categories, and the marketing entries clearly reflect emerging trends,” added Doug Van Lerberghe, the 2008 chairman of the Best of 50+ Housing Awards Committee. “It’s obvious that builders, architects and marketing professionals better understand what today’s mature buyers want, and how to communicate with them.”
 
About the 50+ Housing Council
Since 1989, the 50+ Housing Council has served the special needs and interests of NAHB members and others in the housing industry that build for the growing 50+ market. The 50+ Housing Council provides information, education and research to its members and offers advocacy support to NAHB members on key 50+ housing issues
 
About KKE Architects, Inc.
KKE Architects, Inc. is a full-service firm providing a wide range of architectural, interior design and comprehensive planning services. Founded in 1968, this award-winning company has grown to become one of the Top 50 architectural firms in the country.