EERE Progress Alert for Eco Programs in the Housing Industry

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today invited energy efficient product manufacturers, manufactured housing experts, and other home performance industry stakeholders to review and comment on its Standard Work Specifications for Manufactured Housing. Developed under DOE’s Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals project, the specifications are voluntary guidelines that outline minimum requirements for high-quality energy upgrades in manufactured housing. The industry review period will remain open through February 3, 2012.
The Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals project is a collaboration between DOE and the home construction and energy upgrade industry to support high-quality home energy upgrade work through voluntary standard work specifications, accredited training programs, and a national worker certification program. In addition to the Standard Work Specifications for Manufactured Housing, specifications are under development for single-family and multifamily housing.
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The Karenia brevis bloom that has been present in southwest Florida for the past several months was detected late last week and early this week in water samples collected offshore and south of the Cape Sable area (Monroe County).  Samples in this area ranged in concentration from medium to very low.  One sample collected this week at Goodland Bridge (southern Collier County) also had very low concentrations of K. brevis.

Karenia brevis was not detected in water samples analyzed so far this week alongshore of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties, in the Indian River Lagoon (Brevard County) or alongshore of Levy, Flagler and St. Johns counties.

EERE News: DOE Webcast February 2: New Lighting Technologies

EERE News: DOE Webcast February 2: New Lighting Technologies

Red Tide diminishing

Red Tide is diminishing at long last; the latest report via FWC

Southwest Coast
The Karenia brevis bloom which has been present in southwest Florida for the past several months was only detected this week in two alongshore areas. Very low concentrations were detected at Lighthouse Beach and Lovers Key State Park (southern Lee County) and very low to low concentrations were found at Caxambas Pass, South Marco Beach and Goodland Bridge (southern Collier County).
Karenia brevis was not detected in water samples analyzed this week alongshore of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties or alongshore of the Florida Keys (Monroe County) and offshore of Sarasota County.

Bloom Boundary:  Sample analysis confirms that the K. brevis bloom is present in small patches alongshore of southern Lee County and southern Collier County at very low and low concentrations.

Northwest Coast
No samples were analyzed this week for the Northwest coast of Florida.

East Coast
Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week in the Indian River Lagoon system (Brevard County) or alongshore of Dade County

More Red Tide and Nutrient Load for Florida? HB 421

I find it pretty "mind-boggling" that under consideration are potential changes to allow for an increase of nutrients into the water-ways of Florida after what we have had to endure with the likes of the BP disaster and the effects on tourism, fishing and sports fishing industry etc, etc.

After all of the extensive pro-active measures that Sarasota County implemented; Florida on a State level is actually considering removing the local ability to address these issues, then I guess as we have to remedy the ramifications on a local basis and get landed with the costs too.

Do we really need to take a chance of exasperating the situation let alone the remedial costs incurred by a severe out break of Red Tide or waterway pollution, be it travel industry or on a local basis? The incalculable cost to wild life and health associated to polluted algae laden waters. What I'm I missing here? Common sense?

Article below...

House committee delays vote on fertilizer bill amid questions, opposition | The Florida Current

Eco Programs: Guide for 50% More Energy Efficient Retail Buildings

DOE Announces Guide for 50% More Energy Efficient Retail Buildings

Would it be feasible (cost-wise) to potential add green roofs? There's so much acreage available in the retail locations alone — you would think there would be a terrific source of potential income should a strategic plan be implemented; first on a trial basis or at least emulate some of the already successful projects, either domestic or international.

The DoE Progress Alert article: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of the third installment in a series of four 50% Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs). This latest guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient retail buildings, helping to save energy and cut store operational costs. The 50% AEDG series provides a practical approach for designers and builders of retail stores, and other major commercial building types, to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the building energy code used in many parts of the nation. These commercial building guides support President Obama's goal to reduce energy use in commercial buildings 20% by 2020. The Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in retail buildings is now available for download.

More on "Green" and Sustainable Products and on our Allard PPC Bespoke Blog