Moises Macias, P.E., Sergio Altamirano, LEED AP BD+C, Jose Luis Castrejon, P.E. and Carlos Arguijo, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, shared their knowledge of sustainable building practices at a conference in Cd. Juarez, Mexico.  They represented the Chihuahuan Desert Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council at the conference hosted by the local CePIA - Centro Profesional de Ingenieros y Arquitectos (Professional Center for Engineers and Arquitects) on August 18, 2010. In accordance with USGBC policy, the participation of Chihuahuan Desert Chapter in international territory was limited to educational purposes.

Moises, Sergio, Jose Luis and Carlos presented on several topics including the role of the U.S.Green Building Council, information about the Mexico Green Building Council, as well as the Chihuahuan Desert Chapter.  They also covered concepts regarding the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Rating System.  The conference, intended to diffuse education in reference to sustainable buildings and communities, was attended by approximately 100 architects, engineers, students, and representatives from other associations.

Chihuahuan Desert Chapter is currently assisting professionals in Cd. Juarez identify regional priority credits for our sister city south of the border.  The intent is to establish and formalize a protocol that can be reviewed and approved by both the U.S. Green Building Council and the Mexico Green Building Council.  If approved,  other regions can follow the same process, and most importantly to our region, projects in Cd. Juarez pursuing LEED Certification could apply for regional priority credits.

El Paso, Texas—Sun Metro has partnered with Google to share its public transportation information via Google Transit, allowing El Pasoans to plan their public transportation trips online!

Using the power of Google Maps, each Google Transit search request provides satellite images and user friendly maps displayed beside a Sun Metro transit route itinerary. The service also provides estimates on walking time and traveltime.

The first few weeks of service, Sun Metro’s Google Transit will operate as a BETA version. Users can try out the new tool while it is a little rough around the edges.The BETA version will allow users to give Sun Metro feedback so that we canlearn how to make Sun Metro’s Google Transit serve a better tool.

El Paso residents and visitors can access transit routes and plan a trip by visitingthe Google Transit Trip Planner at www.elpasotexas.gov/sunmetro

or www.google.com/transit.

Commuters on the go can also download Google Transit onto any Java-basedphone or mobile device.

This partnership is just one of several technological advancements Sun Metro has implemented over the last year. Other recent developments include the installation of real-time display panels, LED display signs and ticket vendingmachines at the new transfer centers.

The online collaboration is another step toward making Sun Metro a moreattractive, convenient and economical alternative to driving a personalvehicle. For more information, call (915)533-3333 or visit www.elpasotexas.gov/sunmetro.

A few years ago, Chad Ludeman and Nic Darling of Postgreen embarked on a journey "to build a LEED Platinum home for $100,000 in hard construction costs."  Lucky for you, they not only succeeded but documented the entire process on their popular 100K House blog!

Most Affordable & Effective Super-Insulated Wall Assembly?

by CHAD LUDEMAN 

You know by now that we’re all about finding the best bang for our buck when it comes to energy efficient construction. That’s how this whole thing started. It’s been a while since we’ve posted on advancements in our building philosophy, so why not talk about our next super-insulated wall assembly that we think could just possibly be the most affordable wall assembly that achieves maximum R-value and minimum thermal bridging with the least impact on your budget.

This is a bold statement, so I expect some comments and rebuttals. Here is my rationale.

by Avishay Artsy

A new green startup business in New Hampshire collects compostable material from local cafes and restaurants. The company's business model is to help restaurants be more eco-friendly — and save money on trash removal.

At the Black Trumpet restaurant in Portsmouth, N.H., chef and co-owner Evan Mallett says he’s long wanted to compost, but no one could offer regular pickups, and their tiny restaurant has no extra space for storage.

"Not only inside the restaurant but also outside," Mallett says. "We don’t have a back alley, we don’t have a parking lot."

But then, a young, idealistic entrepreneur named Rian Bedard offered a solution. Bedard had recently moved from San Francisco — which requires that its residents separate their trash and compost.

Bedard was inspired to try to bring curbside compost pickup to New Hampshire’s coast.

In November, he and a friend started the company Eco-Movement.

They haul their clients’ compostable waste to two local facilities, where it’s broken down and sold to landscapers and farmers. Rather than a flat fee, the restaurants pay based on the amount of waste they produce.