Green Porch Construction

Key Project Goals
Interface with the Chicago Inspection Department as it relates to the Health, Safety and Welfare of the Citizens of Chicago who are concerned with “Green Solutions”.
Incorporate a “kit of parts” within the Chicago Porch Prototype Drawings to streamline permitting.
Encourage the “green initiative” by lowering or waiving the permit fee if the Client “upgrades” to a green solution.
Expand the function of the Chicago Porch.
Bring “Green” Architecture to the Common Man to encourage participation.
Work within the LEED framework.
Provide a solution adaptable to a wide range of aesthetic tastes, demographic circumstances and financial budgets.

stephanie katsaros	Hi! Can you share some examples of how Green Porches could help the environment in Chicago? Is it with design ideas like renewable material, water capture, etc?
3stopshop	Jamie, No problem, I would like to know who I am giving this information to. I can be contacted directly at 3stopshop@gmail.com
Jamie Johnson	Can you please give a little background on how you would like to expand the function of the Chicago Porch?

3stopshop

Greenification: Helping make Chicago a place to Stay.

I suggest building trellises that stretch between buildings above the streets downtown. Ivy and plants that absorb CO2 emissions would work to reduce emissions at street level

The cleverly designed trellises would also provide sun protection, and help reduce sun exposure.

Ideally, the structure would be very durable (resistant to wind and structurally sound) and light-weight (using light materials and little dirt) so that if the structure fell, it would do no damage to those below.

A lath/lattice design would allow for multiple levels between the same buildings.

EverInAscent

Sales Tax

Cook county has a huge problem with high sales tax. I think we should increase the tax on items sold in containers that you are unable to recycle, while decreasing the tax on goods that you can recycle. For example, orange juice sold in stores in containers that can be recycled would have a 7% sales tax applied, while containers that can not be recycled would have a 12% sales tax.

Colleen Feeny That is an awesome idea! I support this! Thanks for sharing! :)

Jamie Johnson

Carbon-Footprint Labels

How about encouraging/making people more aware of carbon-footprint labels? I just read an article about how it is gaining popularity in Britain and France. It can be a great money-saver for businesses and, personally, I would love to buy products I know have low carbon footprints.

http://www.economist.com/node/18750670

lindsay.beilke

Ban the practice of 'hosing down' sidewalks

This proposal would make it illegal for non-food service operations to hose down sidewalks.

Numerous building maintenance personnel use hoses and water to clean their sidewalks on a weekly, even daily, basis. This is quite simply a waste of water and can be accomplished through sweeping.

Community Member Living near the worlds largest body of fresh water, the great lakes, water conservation is not our big issue. I agree hosing is a waste as it is innefecient. Pressure washing is much more effecient and uses less water to do the same job.

Some form of exception must be determined to allow periodic pressure washing for more thorough cleanings.

Robert Jericho

Gardens to supplement Food Stamps

I would like to see the city support lower income by providing the seeds, dirt, compost, and training for people that depend on food stamps. For anyone that qualifies for food stamps, the city could deliver supplies to grow their own food, and perhaps encourage community "farmer markets" where these vegetables and herbs could be shared within the community.
Often low income people are located in food deserts, or places that are located far from grocery stores. This program would help deliver supplies to people that could use the support.

wfmconsulting

I believe that this is best type of participatory planning for food desert communities. It links those urban farmers with market i need of nutritional food options. It appears to be a win-win for all, the growers, the food subsidy program and program participants. It is also a bridge for cross-cultural interaction and relationships...knowing/linking your local farmer and customer. This is the most practical of ideas and very socially-conscious!

EverInAscent

And it creates a community of garden-growers. The habits the children would learn would also be a nice benefit of the program. I agree! Nice idea.

Jamie Johnson

Let’s hear it from our leaders.

Elected leaders should pursue energy use reduction and trim their carbon footprint as an example for the public. Every building is a candidate for energy use reduction, and virtually every building offers opportunities for gain in property value and savings in utility cost that make lower energy cost a “slam dunk” compared to the cost of efficiency. Those we have entrusted with office can influence the public to attend to creating a sustainable society. It starts at home. Leaders at all levels have their own residence and operate small facilities where constituents are heard. Leaders have access to local firms who help to identify opportunities to save (energy auditors) and firms that install efficiency improvements. Leadership goes beyond stating lofty public goals and sponsoring legislation.

John Porterfield

Low-/No- Cost Building Energy Efficiency: What's Possible?

I believe we should increase our expectation what home owners and renters can do in their residences to improve efficiency and reduce energy use and cost.
Though “low- and no-cost” programs are popular, I have found only three programs that followed up with measured savings. These are 4%, 8%, and 22% for programs with quite different designs, incentives, extent of interaction of participants, etc. The persistence of savings from programs is little known. Before we can increase our expectation of Low-No-cost Program participants, we need to form a realistic expectation of the Low-/No-cost Program concept. Happily, these learnings may be delivered simultaneously. A study of program potential can be structured as “learn by doing.”
Low-/No-cost Programs may provide results:
• in a short time frame (will address the constraint of training a green collar workforce)
• at low cost
• with improvements that may lack sufficient margin to be attractive for contracting firms
• in many homes, even where resident are not prepared to have major retrofit work
• may help residents feel comfortable about having major retrofit work
It is time to demonstrate what the US public can do when we roll up our sleeves and take action to reduce energy use where we live, tackling all work that is wihin our informed, trained, and supported capacity. The potential calls for serious study.

John Porterfield

Guarantee positive energy efficiency results

It is time to fund a pilot study of “guaranteed savings program.” Removing uncertainty about savings may be key to efficiency becoming the “thing to do.”

It is possible to restrict funded program options to those that deliver positive economic outcome - utility bill savings in excess of payment on a loan to make improvements that achieve the savings. Chicago should spark the first US building energy efficiency program that guarantees positive economic outcome.
Good technical design will produce only few participants who do not achieve greater disposable income (see Cost-Effectiveness of Weatherization in Low-Income Urban Housing Stock, Jonathan L Bradshaw, Princeton University, 2010 and ACT2 Walnut Creek Residential Site EEM Impact Analysis, Eley Associates for Pacific Gas and Electric, 1997 - difficult to locate on-line though I'd be happy to forward a PDF. The program guarantee would align with improvements that have demonstrated savings -- hundreds of energy efficiency results in actual buildings are reported in Home Energy magazine.

A pilot program is within the capacity of any government, any non-profit having support from any foundation, or by any business, association or benefactor. On a large scale, loans for efficiency, similar in principle to utility firm borrowing to build a plant, pipeline, or transmission line, could come from a local bank or credit union. It would be well for each building owner to establish income from efficiency options that provide the highest return before installing options that might have utility savings less than loan payment. If negative cash flow occurred, it could be pre-agreed to extend the loan term to improve cash flow while Quality Assurance studied why expected savings did not occur.

Immediate increase in disposable income is available, now, to virtually every building owner. For maximum effectiveness a guaranteed energy savings program could serve every building owner.

Robert Jericho	This is actually part of the requirements for the PLANNYC tenant/landlord lease modifications
EverInAscent	Forcing a change in efficiency standards before clean energy fuel alternatives become increasingly available and feasible could make the legislated changes an unnecessary cost burden to businesses. If we had no other prospects on green energy, this would be a great measure, but I think it ends up pulling the trigger too soon. Gas prices have driven the development of alternative energies. If hydrogen was suddenly used to power buildings, and required investment in structural changes, the recently installed energy-efficient machines could become obsolete. Your idea should be something we continually revisit: we'll assess the situation again soon.
John Porterfield	No. Program structure must include some means to convey to participants a reasonable expectation around energy savings. Fortunately, evaluations of DOE weatherization (active since 1976) and hundreds of other studies define this expectation -- often at odds with expectation a building owner may have or an installer may suggest. The owner would "go to the bank" with guarantee based on realistic expected savings. Any lender would do: Prosper on-line, local bank or credit union, etc. Program design would include methods to align lender practices with Program structure. No City or government funds would be required for installation costs -- a lending industry already exists. There may be a participation fee, "savings non-attainment insurance" grant support, or minimal support from government to address instances where savings were below expectation. I suggest a period where efforts to correct what might have gone wrong -- prevented expected savings -- before the difference between expected and realized savings would be paid out.
Robert Jericho	Thanks for the posting - are you suggesting that the city underwrite the loan for improvements?

John Porterfield

Reclaiming land in front of fire hydrants:

Converting the wasted asphalt in front of every fire hydrant in the City of Chicago to urban farms, rain gardens or gardens with porous paving could reduce by up to 171 football sized fields the amount of impervious surfaces in the city.

Problem:
-Chicago has approximately 47,000 hydrants.
-Each hydrant mandates 15 feet space in either direction where parking is not allowed (seems high).
-Parking spaces must be a minimum of 7 feet wide
-A high estimate would be 1,410,000 linear feet of ashphalt that is underused most of the time. That works out to 9,870,000 square feet of underutilized space

The average football field is 57,600 square feet. So we are talking about more than 171 football sized fields of underutilized asphalt. Even a more conservative estimate of the actual space in front of fire hydrants (using 7 feet in either direction instead of 15 feet) would mean that nearly 80 football sized fields of asphalt are underutilized.

Solution:
Propose an ordinance that allows for the conversion of theses spaces, with the requirement that all residents on a particular block have access to it. Partner with local community organizations to replace the existing asphalt with community gardens, possibly even growing food for the local community. There are numerous organizations in Chicago that know how to develop community gardens and get community residents organized to manage the site over time. If for some reason food gardens are not viable, then rain gardens using native landscaping could also be an option. If a fire did occur than of course whatever is growing would have to be sacrificed and regrown later, but considering how much space we are talking about throughout the city, that seems like a small price to pay.

I’m assuming that firetrucks wouldn’t need to get right up to the hydrant. If they would need to be able to pull up to be flush with the curb, then porous paving could be used to allow for plant growth, but still allowing the fire trucks direct access to the hydrants.

Source: http://www.chicagoreporter.com/index.php/c/Web_Extras/d/Dry_Hydrants
Source: Street and Site Plan Design Standards City of Chicago
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_square_feet_are_in_a_football_field

dbutt	Good point. I suppose we could integrate some type of public art component as well, requiring some type of recognizable pole of a regular height that could be custom designed by local residents.
Robert Jericho	This is a very well written proposal with some good references about the quantity of hydrants in the city. Part of the reason that there is concrete in front of the hydrant is to prevent them from being blocked from view, particularly in locations where there is no lawn service. Any thoughts on addressing this concern?

dbutt

Urban garden/ grow your own food programs...

The public land that spans the space between the sidewalk and the curb-- can we start a program that trains, educates, and encourages people to plant seasonal fruit and vegetables and grow their own food? The program can incorporate training on how to can and preserve food through the winter as well.

Amanda Eich

Exercise Machine Generators (Green Gym)

People use a lot of energy when they work out at the gym. Why not install machines at fitness centers that harness this energy and use it to help power the gym?

The energy generated at the gym could be distributed to the grid and used to provide donated energy to low-income families Working out at the gym becomes an act of good will

John Porterfield

Several community gardening models exist. Perhaps the best established is Resource Center > http://www.resourcecenterchicago.org/compost.html Sometimes it is healthier to go ahead with a concept rather than wait for the public policy process.

EverInAscent

Plants Hung Over 90/94 in Loop Reduce Greenhouse Gases

In the downtown area of 90/94, there are many bridges that overhang the highway. To trap emissions at their source (and pioneer a model for other systems), we string metal wires/netting between the bridges (and additionally supported by attachments to light poles). Then we plant ivy that eventually grows across the wires. The ivy absorbs the CO2 from automobiles, and the city breathes a little better. This kind of reminder of Green Initiatives is like a giant billboard for green economy.

EverInAscent

Comprehensive Curb/Alley side Recycling

The most obvious area of need in the waste and recycling area is to institute comprehensive Blue Cart recycling to all residential neighborhoods. Multifamily and Commercial must follow as well, but the biggest gap in service is comprehensive residential recycling. Recyclable commodities are valuable resources, not waste or garbage. This is more an identification of a problem than an idea for solution but I post this to get the conversation started and hopefully suggestions will follow.

stephanie katsaros	Sorted drop-off facilities make a ton of sense; I would love to see a concrete idea like this realized. The problem is, most citizens/businesses won't make the effort. I feel it is the City's responsibility to make disposing of recyclables as easy as disposing of waste. After all, there is value in those blue bins. The City pays to haul & dump recyclables AND YARD WASTE in landfills. That is wasting resources also. Municipal Waste in the City of Chicago is not properly or efficiently handled at this time - as citizens and business owners, we must demand change, or the status quo will persist.
Community Member	The challenge with additional items going into the blue bins is the resources necessary to properly sort and manage them. Convenient alternative drop-off locations for other recyclable materials is the best solution. This makes recycling more convenient and easier on the back end to sort, manage and re-sell.
John Porterfield	I find videos of the Chicago recycling process at YouTube helpful in understanding the process. The official guide appears to be > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxGYxtk3o9I Videos may be helpful in framing suggesting improvements to Chicago recycling.
stephanie katsaros	Whatever is placed in the garbage bins is taken to a transfer station, where it is combined with other waste to be taken in a larger load to the landfill. NO ONE should feel confident that anything is being recycled unless it is separated from waste and placed in a recycle bin. It is not logistically feasible otherwise. As you may envision, material from the blue carts is taken to a sorting facility, where recyclable items are identified and recycled.
Robert Jericho	Don't the waste haulers sort at a central facility? This used to be the case.

Mike Mitchell

Sprinkler water conservation

Put moisture override sensors on city owned sprinkler systems - presently sprinkler systems just run on timers. When it rains, they run anyways.

Robert Jericho

Water Saving Solution

Greetings,
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5 years ago it was "Renewable Energy "
The last two “Efficient Lighting and Cooling”

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Best Regards,

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b.bloom@g4all.net
847-347-1996
Green4all Energy Solutions Inc.
G4all.net / H2minusO.com

Robert Jericho

So what exactly are you proposing other than people buying your product?

b.bloom

Bike Path

Open the McCormick to downtown private drive to bicycles

Community Member

Great idea. I could really see this being quite beneficial.

Robert Jericho

Effective Car-Sharing

Develop an effective car-sharing template for businesses and local governments. The template should allow synchronisation of schedules, ways to overcome most common barriers and provide a list of the appropriate benefits and incentives associated with car-sharing (e.g. special parking spot etc) People, who live not far from each other, should be able to meet at a central point drive to public transportation/work and have scheduling priority.

John Porterfield

I find a nice summary of car sharing from BC > http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm7.htm Here in Chicago area, I-Go has a business car sharing plan.

alapitsk