Ultra-sustainable zHome becomes the first community of WaterSense labeled new homes in the Nation
(Seattle – Jan. 25, 2012) zHome – the ultra-sustainable, 10-unit townhome development in Issaquah, WA that is redefining the future of housing – is also the first community in the Nation in which every home has earned the WaterSense label for new homes.
EPA’s WaterSense program is modeled after its highly successful Energy Star program. The goal of WaterSense is to significantly reduce water use nationwide to save water resources for future generations.
A home that is certified to earn the WaterSense label will use at least 20 percent less water than a standard, newly-constructed home and the high-efficiency WaterSense labeled fixtures perform as well or better than their traditional counterparts.
Exposing the Lies: Unmasking PHEV Misinformation
By: Felix Kramer, Calcars.org
January brings good news about the resolution of issues about Volt safety, announcements of many new PHEVs to come, many new sources of anti-plug-in criticism and misinformation — and finally, a response mechanism — and lots of other resources for CalCars-News readers who haven’t had a chance to keep up with the latest developments.
(Shortly after it goes out on email, this posting will also be viewable at http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html — there you can add CalCars-News to your RSS feed.)
* NEW PLUG-IN HYBRIDS COMING INTO VIEW: the wave of announcements
continues, with production PHEVs now expected including the Opel Ampera, Ford Fusion Energi, Honda Accord, Mercedes B-Class E-Cell, Volvo XC60, Audi A1 e-tron, Mitsubishi PX-iMIEV, possibly a Lincoln version of the Fusion and a Cadillac version of the Volt, and others at the concept stage, plus, of course, many pure EVs.
EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Farm Workers Reduce Pesticide Risks
(New York, N.Y. – Jan. 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a $25,000 grant to the Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) to reduce exposure to pesticides for farm workers in southern New Jersey. CATA, a Latino-led nonprofit organization, will educate migrant farm workers throughout the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, […]
Alliance for New York State Parks: Cuomo Budget Will Reverse Decades of Decline at State Parks and Historic Sites
Spending plan provides $33 million toward repairs, upgrades and restorations to Hudson Valley’s aging and deteriorating state park system.
State funds will boost Alliance’s public-private fundraising campaigns for Minnewaska and Fahnestock State Parks.
Decades of underinvestment and physical decline at New York’s 213 state parks and historic sites will be reversed and local private fundraising efforts will be boosted under a spending plan presented today by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The Alliance for New York State Parks praised the governor and welcomed news that his proposed budget calls for an $89 million increase for repairs, upgrades and restorations at 48 state parks and historic sites, including 12 in the lower and middle Hudson Valley. The amount, including $33 million for state parks in the Taconic and Palisades regions, will be funded through the New York Works Infrastructure Fund.
Homebuyers Enthusiastic About NexusEnergy Homes
NEXUS ENERGYHOMES FORECASTS STRONG GROWTH IN 2012
(STEVENSVILLE) Jan 18, 2012— Stevensville, Md-based NEXUS EnergyHomes, Inc., an award-winning builder of Net-Zero custom homes and communities, anticipates strong growth and sales exceeding $12 million in 2012 as multiple green energy home projects initiated last year throughout the mid-Atlantic region move forward to completion.
“Our commitment to Net-Zero standards for single family dwellings is finding a robust acceptance and enthusiasm in the marketplace, despite a weak economy,” says V. Paul Zanecki, Nexus EnergyHomes President. “We are making America energy independent one home at a time, at a cost no different than other new homes on the market,” he says.
Following three years of intensive research and development in conjunction with the Research Center at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), NEXUS launched single family home developments last year in Frederick and Centerville, Md and Garrett County, Md, as well as custom urban townhomes in Philadelphia. The 54-lot North Pointe GeoSolar Community in Frederick sold both model homes in the first two weeks of offering and ended 2011 with 17 lots under contract, six homes nearing completion, and a further eight pending building permits. NEXUS is projecting a consistent 2012 sales pace, for this community, of one home per week, which has the potential of selling out North Pointe by years‟ end at price points consistent with increased quality and demand.
Zanecki says, “It‟s not hard to understand why NEXUS EnergyHomes is succeeding in a market where other builders are struggling to make sales. When you can buy a new construction home built with the highest-technology and certifications available in green-building standards combined with the modern layout and amenities that homebuyers are looking for, all for the same price point compared to traditional homes on the market, why would you choose anything else?”
