Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Roof Rocket Is Going Local
Roof repair and replacement can be expensive, which is why we have created a valuable resource for helping homeowners learn the important aspects of roofing. From information about the different types of roof materials to how you can help the environment with green roofing, we have the information you need.
As homeowners, we know that finding the right information about how to maintain your roof to prevent costly repairs can be difficult. Roof Rocket is a leading source of knowledge and tools to educate homeowners and empower them to take control over the life of their roof.
Soaring To New Heights
As a resource for all things roof, we have expanded our services to offer more personalized attention to anyone looking for information about roofing.
Through Roof Rocket, you can find local roof contractors in your area, obtain a quote and even have a roofer contact you. We can you put in touch with a roofer anywhere in the U.S. and provide you with the tools necessary to find the best roof contractor.
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Economy Puts Chargers Stadium On Hold
San Diego Chargers fans have been gearing up for the arrival of a new stadium, to house their NFL team in style. The proposed stadium is said to have a retractable roof, to make use of San Diego’s great year-around weather. Retractable roofs are becoming an increasing trend among new stadium and concert venues, with the majority of new builds sporting this feature. However, with new roof technology come additional costs.
Despite the excitement over the new stadium, recent reports now suggest the plans for the new stadium may be a bust. Recent economic pressures, and a new redevelopment law put forth by the state, have tightened the purse strings on funding sources. Spokesperson for the Chargers, Mark Fabiani said, “We now need to find alternative sources of funding.”
Blocked At The Pass
California’s new redevelopment law is keeping the Chargers from using state subsidized money to fund the project. Initially, the stadium was to be funded from the same revenue stream as the money used for schools and social services. The new law would not allow the revitalization of the old stadium to be funded by certain public revenue sources.
Even further are problems with competition coming from proposed stadiums to be built in Los Angeles and San Francisco. With many so things standing in their way, where do the Chargers go from here?
The Chargers are hoping for a taxpayer-financed contribution to cover the costs of the stadium. However, the Chargers do intend to contribute at least $200 million towards the proposed $800 million stadium. Charger fans may be willing to back their team in the stands, but whether they are willing to back them financially for a new stadium remains to be seen.
NASA Builds Sustainability Base
NASA is nearing completion on its $20 million Sustainability Base. The futuristic building is at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley at Moffett Field, California. The base is due to be completed in July 2011.
The federal government is touting the building as its greenest building of the year. Compared to similar sized office buildings, the base will cost approximately 6% more to construct. NASA says the building will cost less to operate and the money will be made up within 10 years.
Among other design features, the 50,000 square foot building has photovoltaic solar panels covering the roof and on patio umbrellas contributing to 80% of the power.
The building’s space age technology, originally developed for NASA spacecraft, will intelligently control the building through a computer system. The Sustainability Base is designed to cool itself from geothermal wells that route naturally cooled water from underneath the ground through pipes and cooling panels inside the building instead of traditional air conditioning units.
The narrow building was designed so natural light could come through the floor to ceiling lights and the skylights on the second story. The building’s computer can also close or open windows and adjust lighting from the windows.
AECOM and William McDonough + Partners architectural firms designed the building and it is being built by Swinerton Inc. construction.
Toys R Us to Host World’s 2nd Largest Solar Array
Toys R Us and Constellation Energy are planning to build the world’s second largest rooftop solar array. The plan is to install more than 37,000 photovoltaic solar panels on their distribution center in Flanders, New Jersey.
Image via Wikipedia
The solar power system will be built, owned and maintained by Constellation Energy. Toys R Us has agreed to a 20 year power purchase agreement at their 1.5 million square foot distribution facility. The 5.38 megawatt solar panel system is expected to be completed by this summer.
70% of the roof will be covered with Uni-Solar Panels provided by United Solar. Approximately 20 acres of rooftop space will produce 6,362 kilowatts of electricity annually. Enough electricity to power 532 homes a year.
Toys R Us will buy the electricity from Constellation Energy and will save an estimated $366,000 a year in electric costs in Flanders. Toys R Us expects to save $7 million over the next 20 years at this facility.
The panels will provide approximately 72% of the distribution center’s electric needs. The solar energy will also prevent the equivalent of emissions produced by approximately 860 vehicles.
Toys R Us is one of United State’s largest toy retailers with 840 stores in the US and 716 stores in 34 other countries. They plan to install solar panels at their other Toys R Us locations soon.
This is expected to be North America’s largest rooftop solar power installation. Currently GM has largest solar roof installation in Spain.
New FHA, Fannie Mae Loans for Energy Efficient Upgrades
Image via Wikipedia
Federal Housing Administration’s new loan program “Power Saver” allows eligible home owners to borrow money to finance windows, doors, heating, ventilation, solar panels and other high energy efficient retrofits.
Eligible homeowners can borrow up to $25,000 at a 5-7% fixed interest rate with 20 years to pay it back. Some of the qualifications are that the house must be a single family home and be your principle residence. Also your FICO score must be at least 660 and your house must not have negative equity.
Although not mandatory, energy audits are an important element in the program. Most lenders are encouraging owners to sign up for an energy efficient analysis conducted by a certified specialist. The specialist will recommend in detail the types of upgrades or additions that will help cut your energy bills and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Fannie Mae’s “Energy Improvement” mortgage add on program, includes the cost of improvements into the mortgage itself. Nationwide participating lenders allow you to purchase an existing home and make energy efficient improvements.
Fannie Mae requires an audit by a certified Home Energy Rating System expert upfront to justify any changes to your single family house as legitimately cost efficient.
At www.pueblo.gsa.gov you can see a list of other FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, U.S. and conventional mortgage loans available to make energy efficient upgrades such as roof top solar panels to your home.
$11 Million Solar Project at Cincinnati Zoo
Nearly 4 acres of solar panels have been installed on parking canopies at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The zoo project is the nation’s largest solar display available to the public.
The solar project took approximately 3 months to complete. Workers installed the last solar display on Friday.
All the engineers, contractors and subcontractors for the zoo project are based in Cincinnati. The major components of the solar canopy were made locally or in other U.S. locations to help promote economic growth.
800 of the 1,000 parking spaces at the main entrance is expected to provide 20% of the zoo’s yearly power needs, and some days sending power back to the utility company.
Melink Corp., the developer and owner of the million dollar project was supported by PNC Bank, Uptown Consortium, National Development Council and First Energy Solutions. As part of the agreement, Melink Corp. will fund 10 scholarships for area residents to be trained as solar equipment installers. The zoo did not have to pay for any of the project.
The project is expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in electrical costs. The zoo also has the option to buy the system after seven years.
The zoo has used other energy saving devices since 2006 when the Cincinnati Zoo pledged to construct only sustainable buildings that meet LEED certification requirements. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Existing buildings have been updated with energy efficient products; by switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs for the annual festival of lights has cut energy bill in half.
Zoo visitors can visit the educational kiosk near the zoo’s go-green garden to learn about the technology and benefits of solar energy.
$4.5B For US Gov To Cut Energy Bill
The Obama administration issued an executive order for the $4.5 billion stimulus to be spent by next September to pay for environmentally friendly, high performance green buildings and renovation projects within the U.S. government.
The federal government is the largest energy consumer in the U.S., the renovations are an attempt to trim the $25 billion annual power and fuel costs. The target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020.
More than 60% of energy use is for transportation. Jet fuel being the largest consumer. The Department of Defense will be changing to greener fuels and take measures to reduce oil dependence. $300 million will also be used to buy more alternative fuel vehicles.
Congress has been setting goals to cut costs and reduce foreign oil dependence since the 1970’s energy crisis. Energy per square foot has been reduced nearly 30% since 1985 for the 500,000 buildings the government leases or owns.
The General Services Administration is responsible for thousands of federally owned facilities at 60 different agencies. The recovery act directs the GSA to invest:
- $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to high-performance green
buildings. - $750 million to renovate and construct federal buildings and courthouses.
- $300 million to renovate and construct land ports of entry.
You can read more at www.nationalgeographic.com
Wimbledon’s Center Court Roof Wins Innovation of the Year
Although the new retractable roof on Wimbledon’s Center Court was completed last year, it was decided that the 2010 Innovation of the Year Award would go to the the famous tennis stadium.
The retractable roof has allowed the three week long tournament to carry on being played, as many times over inclement weather has hampered proceedings. Rain and bad light affect the high profile games which are kept for Center Court, and it is only now that the air-conditioned stadium can be kept open to reduce the amount of refunds and upset fans from missing games. Center Court continues to hold a huge premium for seat tickets, yet the three weeks in late June/early July are always plagued with rain.
Now, with the moving roof that is also ventilated and see-through, natural light can still be enjoyed as well as a fully natural playing ground. The grass can be watered correctly, ensuring it has a good amount of water content as dry ground can cause the tennis ball to bounce differently. The roof also keeps the ground temperature at a constant level which ensures the promotion of grass and this will help the players. In recent years many players have slipped and blamed poor grass quality during the tournament, but the new roof can help combat this problem.
Populous, the design firm who organized the roof structure as well as the rest of the revamped Center Court, had the painstaking task of keeping the age-old heritage of Wimbledon, while bringing it firmly into the 21 st century.
The awards ceremony was held in Dublin, Ireland at the Stadium Business Summit just a few days before this year’s Wimbledon tournament was due to start. The moving roof on Center Court has transformed the way the tournament will run in many years to come and improve the stadium thoroughly, it was good enough to take the top prize.
