A Train Attraction: Reused Rail Cars and Cabooses

Toronto, Canada's Restaurant Facade

The world is searching for ways to renew, reuse, recycle and rebuild all elements that came to be in Industrial Revolution, including railroad cars. Museums, city parks and visitor centers are all using old railroad cars, especially cabooses, as civic booths to house tickets or information, plus as entrances to social areas. Other alternatives to the reuse of railroad cars is, exactly that, the re-use of the cars. Another more artistic approach to the refurbishment of train cars is to turn them into their own attractions.

President Calls For More Green Building

President Obama speaks at the State of the Union address

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for increased energy efficiency in existing commercial buildings, potentially saving $40 billion a year. He outlined his Better Buildings Initiative to give public and private building owners the incentives they need to make these projects feasible.

New Solar Concentrator Being Developed at HyperSolar, Inc.

Concentrator in development at HyperSolar

A new version of solar concentrator is being developed by a Santa Barbara, CA company, HyperSolar. If successful, “the world’s first thin and flat solar concentrator for direct placement on top of existing solar cells.” could revolutionize solar energy industry pricing.

Gabion Walls Make Green Sense

Gabions can be used for landscaping, erosion control, or for walls in structures.  Photo: Gabionwalls.net

Gabion baskets, traditionally used for building retaining wall and controlling erosion, also can be used as a homebuilding product for emergency settlements or by those wishing to construct walls using new material approaches.

Arizona Diamondbacks Go Solar

chase-field

The Arizona Diamondbacks are going solar at their baseball field in 2011. The Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks, will soon have a new solar array doing double duty at the stadium The 75 kilowat array will be pulling in solar energy to help reduce the amount of electricity used by the stadium during baseball [...]