Greener buildings and infrastructure event, March 23-24

I'm a bit late in posting this, but here goes:

Siemens his hosting an event in Tysons Corner today and tomorrow, called "Answers for Infrastructure and Industry: Greener buildings, factories and infrastructure."

It runs until 6 p.m. tonight, March 23, and from 9:30-4:30 on March 24. You can customize your own agenda and select from more than 50 available seminars in four tracks: Industry, Building, Government/Commercial and Water/Environment.

There will also be a Siemens Technology Showcase, 11,000 square feet of green technologies and solutions.

Plus it's free! However, you must register.

Green internship fair in Bethesda March 27

I just posted over at the Bethesda Green blog about the Fields of Green Internship Fair we're hosting, Saturday, March 27 from 11-3:30 in Bethesda.

If you're a young person age 17-24 and looking for a summer internship in a "green" field, come check it out! Companies and organizations such as Green America, Green Summer Job Corps, Clean Currents and Honest Tea will be there!

Visit the Fields of Green Internship Fair web site for all the info--and to register.

With corporate fleets, greater efficiency means drop in costs

Do you drive a company car? Does your firm have a fleet of vehicles, for passengers, freight or delivery? If the answer is yes, check out this short video, 'Fleet Efficiency: The Movie,' from Environmental Defense Fund. It shows you how some simple steps can save you $700 per vehicle (per year, I'm guessing); in the process, you'll also reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

If all U.S. corporate fleets--with their 3 million vehicles--became more efficient, that'd save companies an estimated $2 billion and reduce carbon emissions from the fleet by about 13 percent, or 6 million metric tons of carbon pollution.

To learn more, check out EDF's Fleet Vehicles page for their five-step framework to reduce emissions and costs. Hey, if money talks, then this stuff is pretty loud!

Green tips for small businesses at Bethesda Green event

I just posted a recap of an event we had yesterday at Bethesda Green. It was basically a panel discussion about how small businessess can go green and save money, featuring author Jennifer Kaplan, and two representatives--Nick Keller and Manuel Vera--from Pepco's Commercial & Industrial Energy Savings program.

Check out my post over at the Bethesda Green blog and learn Kaplan's top three tips for small businesses seeking to go green, as well as what Pepco's Energy Savings program has to offer.

Switching to geothermal heating and cooling in Derwood, Md.

Last week the Washington Post featured a great article by Christopher Gearon, a Derwood, Md., homeowner who told the story of how he had a geothermal heating and cooling system installed for his house.

The surprise for me was how cost-effective it turned out to be, thanks to federal and county tax credits and a state grant. The geothermal heat-pump system (to heat/cool his 4,400-square-foot home) totaled $23,950, but with a 30 percent federal tax credit ($7,185), $2,000 from the Maryland grant program, and $5,000 Montgomery County property tax credit, his net cost was $9,765 -- about the same as if he had installed a new oil-burning HVAC system.

Gearson said he'd make back the cost of the system, through savings on his energy bills, in about three years. Wow!

Note: The costs don't include what it'll take to re-landscape his front yard, which had to be dug up in order to drill two 375-foot holes for underground pipes. (Check out this WaPost graphic for how geothermal works.)

If you can cover the up-front cost, this seems like a great deal. (As for the tax credits, Bethesda Green has a good summary of energy-related tax credits for Montgomery County. You can find Maryland state info here and here. )

March green events calendar for the DC area

Here's some of what's going on this month. Have an event that's not listed? Add it in the comments section!

March 4 - First Thursday Happy Hour With Bethesda Green
Grab a pre-St. Paddy's Day pint and do some in-person social networking with other green folks.

When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 7 - Creating Sustainable Landscapes
Holly Shimizu, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, speaks about how gardeners can enhance the health of their landscapes through decisions relating to water, plants, soil and materials, as well as human health and well being. Free. RSVP to the Montgomery Sierra Club.

When: 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: Rockville Libary, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850

March 9 - 'Greening Your Small Business' Author Speaks
Join Bethesda Green for this lunchtime event with Jennifer Kaplan, author of 'Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers--and Save the Planet.'
Nick Keller from Pepco's Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentive programs will also be there to explain how small businesses can qualify for energy incentives.

When: 12-1:30 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd Floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 10 - Great Energy Efficiency Day
An in-depth discussion on funding, technology and policy measures required to realize energy efficiency's full potential. Sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Capitol Hill

March 13 - Goodwill's Travelin' Trunk Show at Greater Goods
This event is part of "Spring Cleaning Month" at the store. Stop by to check out their awesome collection of vintage fashions and donated fabrics and buttons. If you want to do a bit of spring cleaning yourself, Goodwill will be accepting donations of items that have outgrown your home or closet.

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

March 16-28 - Environmental Film Festival
It's the 18th annual festival; this year, it explores the vital connections between food and the environment. See the Web site for the list of 155 films that celebrate the wonder of the natural world and illuminate the growing challenges to life on Earth.

March 16 - Stormwater Solutions Panel Discussion
Learn about stormwater issues and what you can do to improve conditions in your watershed by taking action on your property. Panelists will include: Steve Dryden, co-chair of Stormwaterpartners.org; Ann English of Montgomery County's Rainscapes program; Donna Evans, a Landscape Designer with American Plant and a LEED Green Associate; Peter Ensign, LEED AP, Executive Director with DC Greenworks; and yours truly, Dan Kulpinski, author of the article "To Revive Urban Streams, Think Small," which was the cover story of the Audubon Naturalist News' Winter issue.

When: 7-9 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd Floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 16 - Green Drinks NoVa
Join folks for some green networking.

When: 6-8 p.m.
Where: Vienna Inn, 120 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, Va.

You can find more March events at the following sites:
BethesdaGreen.org, LiveGreen.net, Green Building Institute,