Quinault picks energy expert for study

PENNINGTON, N.J. — The Quinault Indian Nation chose the Pennington, N.J.-based solar technology company WorldWater Corp. to study how the 210,000-acre Quinault Nation can use renewable energy systems at its beach resort and casino. The tribe won a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund the study.

The Quinault Nation is located along the coast on the Olympic Peninsula. WorldWater, which provides solar energy and water-pumping systems, will look at ways the Quinaults can use solar, wind, wave and other renewable energy sources.

WorldWater says it delivers systems in Africa and Asia, and that its technology is used for commercial and industrial water-pumping, irrigation and refrigeration systems.

$1M grant for 35 ‘Breathe Easy' homes

SEATTLE — A project to design 35 homes for people with asthma in the West Seattle's High Point housing project recently won a grant for almost $1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The University of Washington is teaming up with Seattle-King County Public Health to see if efforts to design allergen- and dust-reduced environments help children with asthma.

Funds cover research as well as upgrades to units. The project team includes Mithun of Seattle and Absher Construction of Puyallup.

The Breathe Easy Homes demonstration units have filtered ventilation, cabinets free of asthma-triggering glues, easy-clean flooring, doormats designed to limit tracked-in dirt and a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner.

More people in low-income housing tend to suffer from asthma, according to UW professor Tim Takaro, and up to 12 percent of public housing residents have asthma. Takaro's study will compare a year's worth of asthma symptoms in children before and after they move into Breathe Easy homes. Occupants will move into the new homes starting in September 2005.

Two meetings on new work at arboretum

SEATTLE — The first of two public meetings on the Washington Park Arboretum will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Montlake Community Center's Tudor Building, 1618 E. Calhoun St. The meeting will focus on the south entry and Madrona Terrace area.

Proposed work includes construction of a 30-space parking lot, an education shelter, new exhibits on forest communities and renovation of Holmdahl Rockery. The public can comment on preliminary designs.

An Oct. 21 meeting at the Graham Visitor's Center at the Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Drive E., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. will address ways to create a wayfinding plan.

Meetings are hosted by Seattle Parks and Recreation, the University of Washington and the Arboretum Foundation. For more information about the south entry project, contact project planner David Goldberg at (206) 684-8414 or davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov. For more information about the wayfinding plan, contact project manager Jerry Ernst at (206) 652-0599 or jernst@prrbiz.com.

Free seminars on new Seattle energy code

SEATTLE — To help with the transition to the new energy code, the Department of Planning and Development is offering four free seminars: lighting and motors on Oct. 11, mechanical systems on Oct. 18, and building envelope design on Oct. 25. An overview will be presented Nov. 1. Changes apply to nonresidential construction.

Seminars will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lighting Design Lab. Participants receive free copies of the 2003 Seattle Energy Code and 2003 Washington State Energy Code. To register, contact Daphne Tomchak at (206) 684-7932 or Daphne.Tomchak@seattle.gov. The new code is posted at www.seattle.gov/dpd/energy.

Businesses can cut cars and get cash

BELLEVUE — The city of Bellevue, King County Metro and the Bellevue Downtown Association are launching a demonstration program for Bellevue employers. It's designed to reduce drive-alone trips throughout Bellevue.

The FlexPass program gives cash rebates to Bellevue employers who buy FlexPass transportation for the first time. Employers receive $40 for downtown Bellevue areas and $20 for other Bellevue areas for each pass distributed to its employees. The program combines transit, vanpool and emergency taxi rides into one annual pass that is priced below retail transit passes.

The rebates are one way the city is trying to cut downtown drive-alone commutes by next year. Employers must register by December for rebates and are required to survey employees for usage. In May 2005, employers can get $400 to survey employees again. For more information, contact Debbie Driver at Bellevue Downtown Association, (425) 990-3098, or Maria McGarry at the city of Bellevue, (425) 452-4345.

City Light incentives for energy upgrades

SEATTLE — Seattle City Light is offering financial incentives through the end of the year for energy-efficient improvements. Businesses and multifamily housing are eligible for City Light's "Energy Smart Services" program.

Eligible projects are upgrades to lighting, HVAC systems, building controls and industrial processes. Medium and large commercial and industrial customers can get a 10 percent signing bonus if they contract with City Light before Dec. 15. Those completed, inspected and approved by City Light by July 15, 2005, can get an extra 10 percent bonus.

For more information call (206) 684-3254. For more information on incentives for small businesses and multifamily buildings, call (206) 684-3800 or visit www.seattle.gov/light/conserve.