This is always a good idea, right? There are many things that I want to tackle in 2009. The following four items I've deemed the most important.
1. Personal: Complete our home renovation / addition. - This must be completed for our family. Meg and the boys need me be to with them, not working on the house every weekend. The projects have to stop this year. Additionally, Mom and Dad are depending on this addition for their retirement. The addition must be in place for their retirement plans to come to fruition. Additionally, this event will allow all debt to be eliminated, it will set us up with our home base through the kids high school years, it will significantly increase the value of our home, and it will improve our community by upgrading the curb appeal.
2. Financial: Eliminate debt and implement new management system. - This must be completed for our family. We have struggled with an annual cycle of getting into debt and getting out of debt for 5 years now. We must figure out how to live within our means at all times. This is a huge challenge given the larger mortgage we are bound to have as a result of the addition, however, a better management system should allow us to see mounting issues before they become overwhelming.
3. Adventure: Camp, Hike, Ski, Bike, Run, Tri. - Completing these items will keep us in shape, keep us happy, expose the kids to nature, provide opportunity to teach G&O outdoor skills, build our family as a unit, and reward us with the feeling of accomplishment that comes with overcoming physical challenges.
4. Contribution: Teach children stewardship. - As we transition into a new era of American politics and business, it makes sense to focus on teaching G&O the value of thinking beyond yourself. Undoubtedly, teaching them these lessons will create an opportunity for us to increase our own focus on stewardship, which, in turn, accomplishes several other lesser goals I have for 2009.
Some of these other less important items for 2009 are: Stay in shape, read books, journal, moderate consumption, and grow people. In order to accomplish these things, I must be: persistent, wise, thoughtful, fearless, positive, athletic, patient, empathetic, passionate, enthusiastic, pensive, mature, fun, loving, aware, relentless, introspective and holistic. Whoa. Tall order. Bring on the new year!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
U.S. Department Chooses Opus for an Energizing Partnership
Opus press release - 1/6/2009
In 2007, commercial buildings consumed about 19 percent of U.S. energy and accounted for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. For years, Opus has been working to change that. Through innovative green building practices, the company has been reducing Yes
In 2007, commercial buildings consumed about 19 percent of U.S. energy and accounted for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. For years, Opus has been working to change that. Through innovative green building practices, the company has been reducing energy and emissions one project at a time. Now, thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Opus will be able to do even more.
The Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Opus Group to participate in the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI). The program teams up private companies with two of the DOE's National Laboratories to speed market adoption of current energy-saving technologies and create new green design solutions for commercial buildings.
Opus is one of 21 companies (five in Minnesota) selected for the first phase of awards, valued at $15 million, which will go toward the cost of researching and developing green technology.
Currently, companies that include retailers, financial institutions and commercial real estate firms have five years to complete two projects—either new prototype buildings with energy savings of 50 percent above the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or retrofit buildings with 30 percent savings. However, due to the economy, discussions are underway with the DOE to extend timelines and the flexibility of the program. These building projects will provide unprecedented insight into private sector decision processes, business models and financial drivers for achieving low-energy buildings.
Dan Young Dixon, director of national design for Opus Architects & Engineers, Inc., said Opus would most likely construct two new buildings and possibly a retrofit. He said the energy savings requirements were definitely attainable for Opus. Young Dixon believes, in the near future, Opus will go beyond the 50 percent energy savings to design and construct net-zero buildings. "The most important component will be finding onsite energy and offsite renewable energy sources," he said. "We're close to doing that, but getting from 50 percent to net-zero is a huge leap. This is a step in the right direction."
Mark Rauenhorst, chairman and CEO of the Opus Group, said taking this step would allow Opus to go beyond what it is already doing in terms of sustainable building. "We look forward to expanding our leadership in sustainable energy through this important partnership with the Department of Energy," he said. "We are excited to work alongside the nation's best researchers to reduce energy use in commercial buildings and see the positive impact this effort will have on our nation, our communities, our environment and our clients."
John Mizroch, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy for the DOE, said, through the partnership, Opus and the other 20 companies would set an example for commercial builders and building owners nationwide.
"The U.S. Department of Energy is pleased to be working with Opus, in concert with the Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory," he said. "Through this ambitious project, we can show that the nation's goals of reducing energy use and carbon emissions are not only important but attainable."
In 2007, commercial buildings consumed about 19 percent of U.S. energy and accounted for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. For years, Opus has been working to change that. Through innovative green building practices, the company has been reducing Yes
In 2007, commercial buildings consumed about 19 percent of U.S. energy and accounted for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. For years, Opus has been working to change that. Through innovative green building practices, the company has been reducing energy and emissions one project at a time. Now, thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Opus will be able to do even more.
The Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Opus Group to participate in the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI). The program teams up private companies with two of the DOE's National Laboratories to speed market adoption of current energy-saving technologies and create new green design solutions for commercial buildings.
Opus is one of 21 companies (five in Minnesota) selected for the first phase of awards, valued at $15 million, which will go toward the cost of researching and developing green technology.
Currently, companies that include retailers, financial institutions and commercial real estate firms have five years to complete two projects—either new prototype buildings with energy savings of 50 percent above the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or retrofit buildings with 30 percent savings. However, due to the economy, discussions are underway with the DOE to extend timelines and the flexibility of the program. These building projects will provide unprecedented insight into private sector decision processes, business models and financial drivers for achieving low-energy buildings.
Dan Young Dixon, director of national design for Opus Architects & Engineers, Inc., said Opus would most likely construct two new buildings and possibly a retrofit. He said the energy savings requirements were definitely attainable for Opus. Young Dixon believes, in the near future, Opus will go beyond the 50 percent energy savings to design and construct net-zero buildings. "The most important component will be finding onsite energy and offsite renewable energy sources," he said. "We're close to doing that, but getting from 50 percent to net-zero is a huge leap. This is a step in the right direction."
Mark Rauenhorst, chairman and CEO of the Opus Group, said taking this step would allow Opus to go beyond what it is already doing in terms of sustainable building. "We look forward to expanding our leadership in sustainable energy through this important partnership with the Department of Energy," he said. "We are excited to work alongside the nation's best researchers to reduce energy use in commercial buildings and see the positive impact this effort will have on our nation, our communities, our environment and our clients."
John Mizroch, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy for the DOE, said, through the partnership, Opus and the other 20 companies would set an example for commercial builders and building owners nationwide.
"The U.S. Department of Energy is pleased to be working with Opus, in concert with the Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory," he said. "Through this ambitious project, we can show that the nation's goals of reducing energy use and carbon emissions are not only important but attainable."
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