EPA and AIA Collaborate on Sustainable Buildings and Communities in New England

November 17 – Earlier this week regional representatives from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined forces to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that promotes green buildings and sustainable living in New England. The agreement is part of a larger, national initiative between the two organizations to advance the knowledge of green design and to promote sustainable development.

The MOU formalizes an existing informal agreement whereby EPA and AIA are encouraged to work together to share information and expertise to promote green building design. Robert W. Varney, EPA Regional Administrator, Greg Ames, President of AIA New England, Jane Weinzapfel, President of the Boston Society for Architects, Jim Hunt, Boston's Chief of Environmental and Energy Services and, David Lutes, of Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, were on hand for the signing.

"The future of our environment is dependent on finding new and innovative ways to tread lightly and build sustainability into new development," said Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator of EPA's New England Office. "Through cooperation and collaboration, EPA and AIA will make advances to ensure that future designs and buildings in New England focus on energy efficiency and the environment."

The MOU builds on past environmental achievements of the AIA such as the Environmental Resource Guide (ERG) launched with EPA funding. This publication became a cornerstone in the early green building movement. EPA and the AIA are also working together on the national Smart Growth Network to promote community development that protects the environment while offering intelligent choices in housing, transportation, and neighborhood amenities.

"The architects of Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts embrace with professional and personal enthusiasm this new opportunity to work with our federal government's most enlightened circuit-rider, the Environmental Protection Agency, to save the earth," said BSA President Jane Weinzapfel.

Design and construction, while improving many qualities of human life, have a significant impact on the environment at the local, regional, and global level. These impacts occur during all building stages, from the extraction and manufacturing of building products, through siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and ultimate disposal.

Green buildings and communities create opportunities to reduce the intensive use of energy, water and materials, leading to less pollution, waste generation, as well as less disruption of wildlife habitat, the hydrologic cycle and the climate. High performance green buildings also create healthy indoor environments with high productivity through enhanced air quality, lighting quality and acoustic quality.

To learn more about EPA's Energy Star Challenge for architects, click here or EPA New England's Green building site by clicking here.

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

CT Clean Energy Fund Seeks Proposals for Monitoring Program for Fuel Cell Installations

November 12, Rocky Hill – The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) last week issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Web-based Performance Monitoring Program for CCEF-sponsored Fuel Cell Field Installations, an initiative that will enable the successful dissemination of the considerable experience and data being gathered through CCEF fuel cell projects. Eleven commercial and demonstration fuel cell projects are currently operating, with additional projects underway. Sharing the data from these projects will help facilitate the market transformation of fuel cell technology within the state.

CCEF seeks experienced applicants that possess in-depth knowledge of the fuel cell industry and of project evaluation and monitoring in Connecticut.

Interested applicants should review the Request for Proposal (RFP) #CCEF-FCMPGM-001 that is available at www.ctcleanenergy.com and submit a proposal by 3:00 p.m. on February 2, 2007.

Questions and answers regarding the RFP will be shared electronically with all applicants. Prospective applicants with questions should send an e-mail to cefinfo@ctinnovations.com. All questions and subsequent responses will be posted on CCEF’s web site at www.ctcleanenergy.com.

Additionally, an information meeting will be held on December 15, 2006 at the offices of CCEF. Please RSVP to cefinfo@ctinnovations.com.

About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)

CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF’s funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers’ utility bills.

Source: www.ctcleanenergy.com