 EnviroCitiznes.org has found that the west coast is not the only region putting energy into making green energy accessible. Energy Independence Now, a green energy consulting firm located in Stamford, Connecticut, provides services in heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), power generation, insulation and conservation realms. They design and install renewable energy systems that are both cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing.
Darek Shapiro, Founder and Principal of Energy Independence Now, takes a holistic approach to green building. He's worked on incorporating clean energy into buildings since 1983. He is a licensed architect and holds a Bachelor of Art degree in Architecture from the prestigious Pratt Institute. Shapiro is also a certified building biologist and environmental inspector! Shapiro is associated with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Connecticut Green Party and the United States Green Building Council. In 2005, Shapiro ran for the Mayor of Stamford office with the Green Party. He ran with a platform of finding innovative solutions to improve quality of life and addressing issues like education, energy, transportation and housing. Although Shapiro was not elected to office, he gained strong support from the community and continues to play a leading role in the political issues in his community.
In 2004, Shapiro founded Stamford's 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Committee, which requires the City of Stamford to buy 20% of its energy from clean energy sources by 2010. He is a member of the Environmental Council of Stamford (ECOS) Board of Directors. Shapiro is also an active member of Peace Action Connecticut and the Connecticut Climate Change Coalition.
Shapiro and his team aim to design homes and buildings that have a positive impact on their residents through their look and feel. Building biology, Shapiro's specialty, is a field of building science that addresses the indoor living environment and examines the irritants present in buildings. Building biologists focus on the materials and process of building a residence or commercial building, the indoor air quality (IAQ) and electromagnetic fields (EMF's). This field of building science was coined in Germany, where it was called Bau-biologie. It began after World War II, when new houses were quickly built to provide accommodation to the growing population. These new houses weren't properly ventilated, causing the occupants to be exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from construction materials. Shapiro continues to provide seminars on the subject of building biology (or Bau-biology).
If you're in the Connecticut area and are looking to make your home or business more energy-efficient, healthy and eco-friendly, EnviroCitizen.org suggests you consults Energy Independence Now. They are committed to sustainability and clean energy.
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