I like people that leave comments.  Comment-ary adds color + perspective that I may not have otherwise considered.  The blogger over at geekwhat did a post about the Top 5 Reasons Why Blog Readers Don’t Leave Comments, and I’m convinced there’s some substance to what he’s saying.  I also saw the Eco-Entrepreneur (his blog is down right now) give away his 700th post to whoever commented for the number that he guessed.  He guessed third, so the third commenter won.  So in the spirit of giving and encouraging eco-edification via comments, I’m inaugurating the Official Jetson Green Prodigious Commenter Award.  I will give away $25 to the 500th comment on Jetson Green.  Not necessarily on this post, but when we get to that point, you’ll know…

Logistics:
First, we’re already partly there, so who knows when #500 will come?  Second, I will provide payment to a paypal address or via mailed money order.  I’m no stiff, don’t worry.  Third, comments do not include spam or hate.  These comments will be deleted and not figured into the mix.  Fourth, when you comment, your email is registered, so I will contact you via email.  Fifth, if I could muster up sponsors, I’d give that stuff away too…Maybe for round #2. 

Update: 4/2 – only at 177 comments. 

The December 2006 edition of Buildings magazine included the Editor’s Choice Top Product Picks (about 100 different products) and I wanted to talk about one certain product.  Assume the following:  you’re a developer, you’re going green, and you’re working hard to get approval on something like a large PUD, or maybe something like what the guys at LandPooling do.  Well, you’re going to have beautiful, open green space and the proper benches and lighting to allow residents to enjoy the development.  Take a gander at the Knight family of products available at Forms+Surfaces.  The Knight Bench is sharp looking and comes backed/backless, with/without armrests, in 6-foot + 8-foot lengths.  You choose.  The bench is surface mounted. 

Green Features:
First, it’s fabricated with solid aluminum made of 95 % recycled content.  The surface is then clear-coated to resist oxidation (not sure what the coat is).  The wood slats are Ipe, which is a sustainably harvested wood that has the USDA Forest Products Laboratory’s highest rating for decay and insect resistance.  The bench is fully recyclable, which is important when looking to the life cycle.

The Knight series also includes a litter receptacle, bollard (CFL or HID), and pedestrian lighting.  The geometric design of the Knight series is completely amazing.  You’ll note that Forms+Surfaces is a member of the USGBC and committed to sustainability (www.forms-surfaces.com).

 

Green building renovation is the future; there are so many inefficient structures and the time will come when deciding not to renovate a building would be similar to using a typewriter when you have a laptop.  Why not start now?  Natural Home Magazine is chronicling a developer who will take a seedy, dilapidated (Boerum Hill) Brooklyn building and remodel it with cutting edge technology and green features.  The developers, Rolf Grimstead + Emily Fisher of R&E Brooklyn, bought it and plan to make it New York’s first American Lung Association Health House.

Green Features:
The interior will use IceStone recycled counters (C2C), salvaged wood or bamboo flooring, and Kirei board cabinets.  Finishes will be with low or no-VOC water-based poly (American Pride).  The house will be wired with solar energy via photovoltaic panels.  Also, there will be a solar-thermal and gas-fired system to heat and cool the place.  In addition, the developers will use the Health House criteria (regarding moisture + humidity control, energy efficiency, and air filtration + ventilation) to guide them in making the indoor air quality top notch.  This should be an interesting project to follow throughout 2007.

Extra Links:
93 Nevins/453 Pacific: 2 Eco-smart Townhouses [R&E Brooklyn]
Brownstoner Blog Post on the 2 Eco-smart Townhouses [Brownstoner]