Written by Susan Kraemer
Published on June 3rd, 2009
The deep Butterfly Roof
The traditional gabled roof that we are all familiar with was engineered to slough off snowfall. But in an uncertain post peak oil future of possible energy shortages and water shortages, more and more houses are showing up with roof-shapes engineered to harvest their own rainwater, and support solar power generation.
This creates a butterfly roof, the opposite of the traditional gable. The very post peak oil Kangaroo House in increasingly drought ridden Australia has the same distinctive roof shape, for the same reasons: it acts as a huge funnel for rainwater, which can then be harvested.
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Written by Susan Kraemer
Published on June 2nd, 2009
Here’s, literally, a treehugger’s house:
It is built on a steep sloping grade which makes it possible to set the main level of the house up into the tree canopy, to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house.
Extending out into the forest canopy, it seems to disappear into its surroundings.
The musician client wanted a house that not only became part of the natural landscape but also suggested the flow of music…
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Written by Susan Kraemer
Published on May 27th, 2009
VisionDivision has a very innovative entry in the Design for the Children competition to design a sustainable and culturally responsible pediatric clinic in the hostile environment of the desert of East Africa. Here is what inspired their design:
Says VisionDivision; “When we saw this competition, we felt urged to create a proposal:
Insufficient water is one of the most severe problems in rural Africa. For many families it is extremely time consuming to collect and can easily start conflicts between…
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Written by Jennifer Kaplan
Published on May 12th, 2009
Whenever I see my friend James D’Addio, the architectural photographer, I ask him about which new green buildings he’s been shooting. Not surprisingly, in a city with dedicated green building blogs and the NYC Department of Design & Construction’s award-winning programs, NYC may be the greenest city in the United States. Here two projects in NYC that exemplify where green building is going.
It seems like if a building is going up, its just as likely as not to be green. McGraw-Hill research tells us that 53% of building professionals expect to be dedicated to green on over 60% of their projects in the next five years. It seems like there is ample opportunity for innovation in the building industries despite a downturn in overall building. I guess NYC is as good a place as any to lead the charge.
Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower, which sits atop a 1928 landmark building in Manhattan is engineered to use 25% less energy than required by code and boasts the world’s largest “air conditioner.” The two-story, stepped waterfall is also a huge radiant cooling system that along with other measures saves 1.7 million gallons of water every year. Other interesting facts about the building include:
90% of the structural steel used came from recycled materials
More than 80% of the orginal structure was recycled for future use
26% less energy was used during construction
Light sensors and controls throughout the building
It has a 14,000 gallon water reclamation system in the basement
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Written by Jessop Petroski
Published on April 27th, 2009
How would you design your ultimate green home? My green home is one that incorporates Earth, Wind, and Fire!
Think of what technology might make possible in the next few decades and how we can use it to build homes that have a positive impact on the environment.
The growing awareness of the fact that buildings are responsible for 39% of our energy consumption, helps explain why green building and energy efficiency at home is one of the most pervasive trends in the construction industry — even as the economy struggles and home-building is at its lowest level in a generation.
Lets take a journey through our imagination and envision the green homes of tomorrow.
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Written by Lucille Chi
Published on April 26th, 2009
The GreenRoofs.org “Green Roofs for Healthy Cities” Conference is on the horizon in Atlanta this coming June 2009! It is just ideal for:
- those interested in creating Green Roofs.
- studying the future of Vertical Gardens/Green Walls.
- raising awareness for green roofs and living walls (vertical gardens).
- engineers, architects, landscape architects, landscape designers, property managers, developers, roofing contractors, and students.
- anyone interested who wants a 2-day crash course in green roofs and all the beautiful benefits they bring to cities.
- creative city gardeners of all sorts.
“Green roofs are an important component of green infrastructure. They provide valuable public benefits related to stormwater management, reduction of the urban heat island, improvement of air quality (including removal of particulate matter), and general improvement of the quality of life in communities.” ~GreenRoofs.org
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Written by Brian Liloia
Published on April 9th, 2009
My jaw dropped when I first watched this video tour of a beautiful owner-built green building construction project in Oregon. This particular green building is made entirely out of cob, a mixture of clay, sand, and straw.
Meka Bunch of Wolf Creek, Oregon built this stunning cob house over a four year period. Complete with hand-sculpted furniture, shelves and nooks built directly into the walls, arched windows, and a killer custom staircase, his cob building is a divine artistic achievement.
Check out the video and photos of Meka’s cob cottage for yourself:
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Written by Jessop Petroski
Published on March 16th, 2009
Going green has reached an all time high, literally! In the movement towards a greener nation, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina has set a new standard for eco-friendly churches. The church as been recognized as an IPL green energy leader.
Pullen’s church expansion had to uphold the church’s tradition of cherishing the earth, so what better way to do so than by incorporating a green design? The desire to be “as green as can be” and still be affordable, is always a challenge faced by any homeowner or organization wanting to make ‘green’ renovations to their home. Pullen chose green design elements that allowed it to meet its goals within a healthy and comfortable structure that offers reduced maintenance and operation costs.
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Written by Brian Liloia
Published on March 13th, 2009
There are many concerns about how we can prevent global warming. In every industry, whether it be transportation, agriculture, or the construction industry, there are questions about how to prevent global warming.
By building better designed, more energy-efficient, and natural homes, global warming will become less of a threat. One of the most basic necessities lacking in conventional homes is sufficient insulation.
Proper insulation will greatly reduce the need for constant home heating and cooling (and in turn, fossil fuels), as insulation will help maintain the temperature of a space. Straw bales stand out for their excellent insulative value, and for the fact that they are a totally natural and biodegradable material with minimal embodied energy.
Within the realm of natural building, many individuals choose straw bale house construction for these reasons.
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Written by Brian Liloia
Published on March 10th, 2009
Through natural building, there are many ways to prevent global warming. Conventional suburban houses are large, poorly designed, and inefficient, and the manufacturing and construction processes are big contributors to global warming.
Natural building is a sustainable design approach that promotes low impact homes built with natural and recycled materials. I will highlight two different techniques in natural building that promote global warming prevention through increased energy efficiency.
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