A refrigerator made in 1984 had an average annual energy consumption of 1457 kilowatt-hour (kWh) in a year. A refrigerator made in 2004 has an average annual energy consumption of 411 kWh a year. Thus, many advanced features in newer refrigerators will save you a bundle of money.
Author: Lisa Laitinen
After finishing my Masters degree in England I decided to move back to my hometown and was offered the position of Managing Editor of green@work magazine. I have been working for the magazine since January 2007.
Categories
Travelling Green
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Almost on a daily basis I receive press releases about a new green hotel that has opened up somewhere in the US. The hospitality industry has a large role to play in the green movement. The J.D. Power and Associates 2007 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study shows that nearly 75 percent of all hotel guests are aware and willingly participate in environmentally friendly programs where they are staying.
The survey explains that, “In response to growing concern about global warming and conservation issues, being environmentally responsible has become a top trend in the hotel industry, with properties initiating various “green” programs, such as changing linens and towels only on request and using water-saving bathroom faucets and toilets.”
So next time your travelling check and see if there are any green hotels or bed & breakfasts in the area. One place where you can find a list of green hotels is at the following website: http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm
Today I came across 2 bits of news concerning the green building industry that I thought I would share with you. The first was an interview on E&E TV that I watched this morning, on which two women decided to build green homes. The homes were installed with solar panels and now instead of paying large monthly utility bills, they receive a rebate from the utility companies every month. For the full interview go to following site: http://www.eenews.net/tv/2007/08/30/
The second news release that I found interesting was about a report on the lowering cost of green building. According to the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), costs for going green may be overestimated by over 300 percent. The findings are disclosed in a new report titled “Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Business Realities and Opportunities,” which illustrates that in a global survey of 1,400 people, the cost of going green was estimated at 17 percent above conventional construction.
In truth, however, costs for green products, materials, and practices have come down tremendously in the past few years, bringing the cost of moving into the sustainable arena to just five percent above the cost of conventional construction.
Why the misperception? Most likely green is still perceived as the costlier option due to the fact that the providers of green goods and services haven’t done enough to market themselves as cost-saving options. Right now, the general perception of going green is that it’s an environmental issue, and that embracing the green movement is good for corporate relations. But the manufacturers of green and sustainable products will generate an amazing amount of momentum if they go straight for what the building community wants—a message that speaks to the bottom line.
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American Clay
While I was doing research for our latest issue of green@work a few days ago, I came across a product called American Clay (www.americanclay.com). I was so impressed with this natural plaster that could be used on interior walls and ceilings. On their website they have dozens of beautiful pictures of homes and businesses that have used their product. The plaster really gives the homes a warm and inviting look that would be unattainable with paint. Best of all you can earn LEED credits by using American Clay in your home or business. Check out their website for a list of stores that sell the product and a how-to of applying the product to walls and ceilings.