Thursday, April 29, 2010

Florida Green Building Law: Florida’s Renewable Energy Landscape – Past, Present, and Future

Excellent article on FloridaGreenBuildignLaw.com on renewable energy in Florida:

As a professional in the solar power industry, I’m frequently asked why Florida, the “Sunshine State,” doesn’t have an abundance of solar panels on its rooftops. While the sun’s rays fall generously on the state, our legislature and utilities have prevented the development of a renewable energy industry in Florida that would spur economic growth, create jobs, and draw investment. Indeed, a strong clean energy market is more about regulations and incentives than it is about sunshine and motivated consumers. This gap between potential and policy drives Florida-based renewable energy companies, such as mine, to seek work in other states.

read more HERE

Monday, April 19, 2010

Bike Miami days coming back to the Grove - Sunday April 25


The City of Miami continues its green movement by once again bringing back the Bike Miami Days. Bann the cars and ride, skate, scroll through the streets of the Grove. A great way to end Earth Day week…

Learn more at their blog: bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com

The German

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

German parking garage...a very green building!


STATE OF THE ART GERMAN PARKING GARAGE

This is pretty amazing! Can you imagine how all of this operates?

And how do they lock each car in its cubicle for safety? (Actually, that is not much of a concern because no one could possibly get inside it here, but the Germans will lock each car anyway.)

Talk about German efficiency! The two photos above were taken at a new parking garage in Munich , Germany . The actual space that the facility occupies is approximately only 20% of a comparable facility with the traditional design that is used primarily in the United States .

Not only is the German structure less expensive to build, but vehicles are also "retrieved" in less time and without the potential of being damaged by an attendant.

It seems that Germany remains in a very leading positoin when it comes to sutianbel buildings. Surely some elements that we can use and learn form here in the US.


The German

Monday, April 12, 2010

top 50 greenest building arounf the world

Top online engineering degree, a blog by Betty Jones, has created a magnificient list of some very sustainable buildings around the world. take a look:

http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=122

The German

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Miami Riverday - April 10, 2010



This Saturday, Aril 10, 2010 from 11 am to 4 pm, enjoy a free Riverday at Lummus park. See the flyer for more information or click HERE.

The German Architect

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Dream in Green Miami Kick off event April 10, 2010 - Keep the dream alive!

Kick off Earth Month 2010 by joining Dream in Green for Cocktails and Hors D'oeuvres, a Silent Auction, Entertainment and More!

Dream in Green is asking for your support to help expand our Green Schools Challenge program in South Florida. All proceeds from the event will go to support the Green Schools Challenge.

Visit www.dreamingreen.org for more information and to register.

The Our Green Schools Challenge program involves students and staff directly in designing and implementing environmental and energy solutions at their schools. The Green Schools Challenge helps local schools save money by reducing their overall energy consumption through student-led conservation initiatives. While conserving energy at their schools, students learn important lessons about environmental sustainability, which are later applied at home and in the community.

During the upcoming 2010-2011 school year, Dream in Green seeks to make the Green Schools Challenge program available to all schools in Miami-Dade County and also expand our Broward County pilot program. To accomplish this goal WE NEED YOU!

HELP KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE by attending our fundraising event, donating, and spreading the word about this important program.

Non-Profit MemberDream in Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is funded through grants and donations. We depend on sponsors like you to continue bringing valuable educational programming to students, teachers and communities in South Florida.

Dream in Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is funded through grants and donations. We depend on sponsors like you to continue bringing valuable educational programming to students, teachers and communities in South Florida.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Health Insurance for Foreign Nationals, Worldwide

I have been looking for good health insurance coverage for a very long time. With my German background and living experience, the US health insurance system was always challenging to understand and accept. Even with the newly passed health insurance reform, there are many gaps in coverage and cost that simply do not compare to what I know about insurance in my home country and other places in the world.

As a small business owner I also explored group insurance, something that requires 4+ employees to be worthwhile. Finally, the relationship of premium and deductable was simply amazing to me. My last coverage had a $5000 deductible, a monthly premium of over $300 and many exclusions.

I finally found a great coverage from a European based company. They insure worldwide and only insure foreign nationals, i.e. people who are not living in their country of citizenship. Fitting the profile I have signed up and am extremely happy with my coverage. In fact I am so happy, that I am writing about it and offer the insurance to those who are interested.
There are straight forward deductibles, the one I selected is extremely low ($125) and the coverage excellent. There are also no pre-existing condition exclusions and the carrier will not drop you. Furthermore, this company offers a few simple affordable perks, such as disability insurance, dental and personal liability.

If you are fed up with eh US health insurance system and/or are in search of a new provider, or know someone else that fits the profile, give me a call @ 786.556.3118 or email me.

Sebastian Eilert, AIA, LEED AP.
SeasbtianEilert@gmail.com

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Shades of Green @ Village of Pinecrest for Earth Fest



SHADES OF GREEN: Sustainable Initiatives
Awarded “Best Green Film” to Screen in Miami at Pinecrest Gardens


(March 31, 2010) WKLG’s world premiere of SHADES OF GREEN: Sustainable Initiatives receives award for “Best Green Film” at the Delray Beach Film Festival.

Shades of Green was shot on location in South Florida and employed a local crew from WKLG Inc.

The film was directed by Gavin Bagwandeen, produced by Doug La Rue, and written by Executive Producer Susan Spinnato. Additional local crew members include Editors and Camera Operators Adrian Arias & Jason Gracia.

The film features local leaders and professionals including Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Mayor Manny Diaz, Commissioner Katy Sorenson, Sustainable Architect Sebastian Eilert, Founders of Congress for the New Urbanism; Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany, Citizen Activist Albert Haram-Alvarez, and numerous select others.

The film was recognized and celebrated as its title was called and granted the award for “Best Green Film” by Dr. Michael Posner at the festival’s award ceremony in Delray Beach.

In its 5th year, the Delray Beach Film Festival; founded and directed by Dr. Michael Posner, has been coined the “Sundance of the South,” as it affords independent filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work. Taking place in the environmentally conscious city of Delray Beach, the festival has gone “green;” including a green category for competition, hosting a green workshop, and initiating a beach clean-up. This is the third consecutive year WKLG has screened films at the festival with Ferdinand Magellan: The Presidential Pullman winning “Best Short Documentary” in 2008.

Shades of Green documents what is happening in South Florida as it takes the needed steps towards a sustainable future. Introduction to key organizations informs viewers of current discourse and policy shaping. The continuum of Smart Growth, New Urbanism, and Green Building is introduced with supporting examples. Relationships between land-use and transit are examined to show how wise-planning and other initiatives play integral roles in energy conservation and efficiency.

Shades of Green is an educational outreach documentary film illustrating how individuals, businesses, and governments can save resources, energy, and money - while benefitting the environment and health of all living things.

A free screening of Shades of Green will take place at the Pinecrest Gardens’ Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 25th at 2:30pm.

Shades of Green will also be screening at the Santa Cruz Film Festival in May and the Central Florida Film Festival this summer.


WKLG Inc. - Doug La Rue is co-founder of WKLG Inc. which has owned and operated FM Radio Station WKLG better known as STAR 102.1FM since December of 1984. In 1986 he expanded into the Commercial Photography, Video, and Film business, with an active interest in preserving South Florida’s history through multi-media creativity. The company’s scope of interest has expanded to include preserving South Florida ecology and increasing awareness of social issues and solutions.
For more information, please visit: www.wklginc.com