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Save Money. Cut Carbon. Breathe Easier

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October 2, 2019

H & H Design and Construction

4th annual national event urging everyone to

“Save Money. Cut Carbon. Breathe Easier.”

Weston— In recognition of the 4th annual national Energy Efficiency Day (EE Day) on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, H & H Design and Construction is joining regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, universities, and individuals in promoting energy efficiency – the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs, cut utility bills, and reduce pollution.

Energy efficiency is also an economic engine, with a U.S. workforce of more than 2.3 million. Ranging from professional services to manufacturing and construction, these good jobs are local and cannot be outsourced.


“We believe our mission is to build a sustainable future for generations to come by promoting and implementing energy efficiency, water conservation, Carbon emissions reduction and Climate change mitigation strategies to protect the people, the planet and its natural resources“. Said, Maria M. Hernandez, President of H & H Design and Construction.

Smarter energy use means we don’t have to generate as much power to meet our needs. Many people don’t realize that H & H Design and Construction has already made significant, reduction in energy savings, by implementing buildings retrofit in South Florida benefiting people’s health, local economy and the environment.  

Reducing the energy used by manufacturers, homes, and businesses benefits everyone – especially energy bill-payers. The average household saves almost $500 yearly thanks to efficiency standards that apply to new appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators.

“We believe we can transform the built environment: improving health, safety and quality of life, one person, one building, one family at a time“. Maria M. Hernandez

To learn more about H & H Design and Construction ’s energy efficiency efforts, visit HHDCgreen.com, or join the Twitter conversation using #EEDay2019

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GOING BEYOND BUILDING STANDARDS FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET!

About #EEDay2019: On Wednesday, October 2, 2019, a growing network of advocates, companies, government agencies, utilities, and others will showcase the benefits of energy efficiency during the 4th annual nationwide Energy Efficiency Day. Learn more at www.energyefficiencyday.org

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OPEN LETTER FROM A FLORIDIAN TO FLORIDA MAYORS

“My concern about Climate Change and Sea level rise”

Dear Mayors:

Climate change is a pronounced environmental challenge that threatens us all equally, so I consider it of great importance, not only to read your open letter sent to Senator Marco Rubio dated January 21, 2016, but also to express my comments. In this letter, you expressed your concerned about Climate Change and Sea Level rise in South Florida and you call Senator Marco Rubio to acknowledge the problem and articulate a Climate action plan. As a Floridian, I share your concerned and I support your vision: I believe urgent actions have to be taken in order to mitigate the effects of Climate Change to protect the future of South Florida.
I agree with you, the next president of the United States must acknowledge the reality and urgency of climate change. Not only to propose solutions, but to project the US in a leading position on the new low carbon global economy of the 21st century. However, 2016 is a Presidential Election year, which means interest groups are constantly looking for and using any and all weaknesses to disqualify candidates. My concern, then, is that you are using an incredibly important issue as a political wedge – seeking to divide, rather than unite. Climate Change can’t afford to wait for a new President, the time is now; the solution is in your hands as community leaders to create awareness and also in the desire of each of his residents to provide solutions.
Combating climate change must be more than just a political buzzword; it is a global issue that requires an aggressive campaign to inform the public about the potential devastating consequences. There is no point having a Climate Action plan in our cities, or a policy of low carbon or participate in the COP21 meeting and sign a global treaty to keep global temperatures levels below 2° Celsius, if we are not first educating why such steps are necessary. The risk associated with energy waste, the terrible consequences of lack of recycling, the need to conserve water and the urgency about reducing our carbon footprint. The issue of climate change goes beyond a political issue; it is a problem that lies in the lack of awareness in our communities, schools and our own homes.
Allow me to take a moment to introduce myself, my name is Maria Mercedes Hernandez; my experience as a disaster  inspector in NJ during the aftermath of Sandy awakened in me the interest to understand and find solutions to the problems of buildings destruction caused by severe weather events. At the same time to recognized the importance of creating awareness and educating homeowners about sustainable and resilient construction to mitigate the effects of climate change. This urgency to find solutions made me get my certification as a professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP ID + C) which allows me to understand problems related to the standard construction and the real and hidden value of efficient buildings.
Consider the following: 72% of buildings in the United States have been built inefficiently, without taking into account the relationship between energy use and environmental impact. 40% of total energy consumption in the US is consumed by residential and commercial buildings, which produces a lot of greenhouse gases (main contributor for climate change and in turn the rise in sea levels). As certified general contractor in Florida and LEED AP I’ve found lack of information in our communities, on the importance of implementation of energy efficiency, conservation or fortification in the properties to be a direct cause to inaction. The lack of information on programs that help its implementation such as the PACE program, among others, continues to be dismissed. This issue represents many challenges, but also a great opportunity for the State of Florida in their fight to mitigate climate change.
Humbly, I asked all of you to continue to encourage Senator Rubio & others running for President of the United States about the urgency of Climate Change, but beyond that I think it is necessary and proper for all of you Mayors to push the issue at a local level. Through information we can achieve greatness. Start the conversation about a PACE program in your city; create educational forums in libraries about property retrofit and sustainable construction as a solution to climate change, also, inform about tax credit, incentives, and financing available for implementation. Encourage citizens to support Floridians for Solar Choice; demand an end to fracking in the Everglades. Become certified as a STAR community, to lead in sustainability. Let’s start from the ground up with the people.
I congratulate some cities Mayors, who have taken this challenge of Climate Change as priority, but there are still other cities that have been left behind without seeing the need for urgency. The future of our state will be at risk until all the cities in Florida, support a Climate action plan and informed its residents about it.
It is my wish to see the State of Florida leading as the first state in solar energy nationwide with more buildings and schools certified LEED, with the highest recycling rate in the nation, as a state with the lowest carbon footprint and better quality of life. A leader in sustainability is not due to government policy but by the desire and the participation of each of its inhabitants to assume the challenge implementing solutions for a better life.
Sincerely,
Maria M. Hernandez
Florida resident.
Ciudad Weston Newspaper
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CLIMATE CHANGE: BUILDING OPPORTUNITY

Transformation of the gray, polluted town to a green, eco-friendly city with wind turbines and trees.

We end 2015 with optimism for the future! In a historical moment, one that can define the future of the planet and humankind, the whole world witnessed the negotiations on climate change in Paris. The future looks promising and healthier, thanks to the treaty made by world leaders at the 21st conference of the United Nations, COP21, where they agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, thereby holding the increase in average temperature to well below 2°C which will reduce the risk and impact of climate change. The fate of our planet and humanity is already in the political framework. Now is the time to respond to the urgency to make a positive lasting impact.

 

UNDERSTANDING THE URGENCY:

To unlock the opportunities of the 21st century economy, we must understand the urgency and challenges we are facing today. All the sectors present challenges, but the construction industry is one of the sectors with the greatest negative impact on Climate Change, which in turn contributes to large economic losses due to extreme weather events.

Globally, buildings are responsible for over 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which would double by 2050, if we take no action to correct it. In the USA, more than 40% of the total consumption of energy is consumed in the residential and commercial buildings. But at the same time, these buildings have a great potential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions which represents a great opportunity.

BUILDING’S HIDDEN VALUE:

Most buildings in the USA have been built without considering the impact of energy use on the environment. As many as  72% of the buildings constructed in the USA are completely outdated and inefficient. As a consequence, we waste billions of dollars in energy, causing a tremendous burden on the environment and climate change. By transforming these buildings into high-performance ones, their owners would benefit from the hidden value of its assets.

The Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisers found that improving the efficiency of those buildings just by 30% with an initial investment of only $279 billion dollars would result in $1 trillion dollars of energy savings over 10 years, yielding a return on investment of 358% in a decade.

GREEN BUILDINGS:

After the meeting in Paris, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will commit to scaling green buildings to more than 5 billion square feet (478 million square meters) over the next five years through the LEED and EDGE green building rating systems. It is predicted that by 2018, the construction of Green Buildings will represent a positive impact.

2016 TIME TO LEAD!

With the recent international agreement on Climate Change (COP21), the timing could not be better to aspire and commit ourselves to a sustainable new year to ensure the success and well-being of humanity. Climate change is the challenge of the 21st century but also the greatest opportunity for the global low-carbon Economy that will pave the way to the renewable energies and new efficient technologies.

For consultation about building transformation, Corporate Social Responsibility, LEED Certification, please send an email to: floridaleedap@gmail.com .

By Maria M. Hernández, LEED AP ID +C

Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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ENJOY THIS SUMMER, SAVING THE BLUE SEA

Summer is here, a great time to go to the beach to have fun in the sun with the family and friends and the perfect time to remind you the importance of going GREEN on the blue sea.

In my recent participation with Great American Cleanup, Broward Beach Sweeps I was astonished with my findings while cleaning up the beautiful Beach of Fort Lauderdale. Eighty volunteers including myself collected 200 pounds of trash in 1 mile of beach. Accordingly with the data from the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup, 22,086 volunteers collected 428,962 pounds of trash

in 952 miles of shore in the Florida coastal and  more than half a million volunteers participated worldwide, collecting more than 10 million pounds of trash covering a distance of nearly 18,000 miles of coastline.

We have a global problem that we have to solve, a message from the ocean that we must listen. People around the globe are concerned and are looking for solutions. The use of disposable plastic in our beach represents a great threat to our shores, poison our oceans and land. We must shift our societies away from disposable habits that harm the environment by eliminating our consumption of throwaway plastics this summer and embracing a culture of sustainability

 

WHAT IS MARINE DEBRIS?

Marine debris is a major global pollution problem affecting every waterway. It is human created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been release on land, lake, sea, ocean or waterway. Researchers classify debris as either land- or ocean-based, but the 80% of the pollution is land based, the majority of this debris is plastic. This debris range from fast-food packaging; cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons, beverage containers, caps, lids, bags, syringes, condoms, balloons, six-pack rings, tampon applicators, among others.

Other types of debris come from the ocean like lost fishing line and nets, and various wastes from cruise ships.

THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH: A PAINFUL REALITY

I can’t talk about Marine Debris without referring to the Pacific Garbage Patch.  Also described as the Pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine debris floating in the central North Pacific Ocean. Studies had estimated that 80% of the garbage comes from land-based sources and 20% from ships. This Garbage Patch contains more than 100 million tons of plastic. The size of the patch is unknown. Estimates of size range from twice the size of Texas, up to twice the size of the continental United States. This is a painful reality that we must correct. The Ocean is screaming for HELP that we can’t ignore.

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT:

The Marine debris is a global threat with a wide range of negative effects like: degrading ocean habitats, endangering marine and coastal wildlife. Ocean pollution affects at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of sea turtle species, 44% of all sea bird species, and 43% of marine mammal species. Plastic is made from petroleum and toxic chemicals that are often not found on labels, but can be toxic to humans and animals. Marine Debris interferes with navigation impeding commercial and recreational fishing, affecting the aesthetic beauty and enjoyment of the coastal areas, thus negatively affecting tourism and as consequence resulting in economic losses. Also, pose a human health risk, medical wastes and drug ending up on beaches can carry diseases, and broken glass and other sharp objects can be very harmful to unsuspecting beach goers, including young children.

CONCLUSION:

Fighting against ocean pollution start with us this summer, small steps lead to big results. You can stop the waste when going to the beach; remember, what we use for a few minutes could pollute our oceans for hundreds of years. This is a problem we can solve together. Here I share some tips: REDUCE the amount of plastic you buy and the trash you produce, REUSE items instead of single-use products, RECYCLE as much of your trash as you can, proper disposal of Household Hazard Waste, join local efforts to pick up trash and  Spread the word.

Enjoy this summer, be part of the solution, not the problem!

For information about waste management, environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP), or how to join local efforts to clean up our beach, please, send me an email to: floridaleedap@gmail.com.

Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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