This post is part of the Green Materials Report series. GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green. Each post focuses on one material. We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it has earned. We…
Author Archives: Dawn Killough
03
Jul
Jul
This post is part of the Green Materials Report series. GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green. Each post focuses on one material. We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it has earned. We…
27
Jun
Jun
This post is part of the Green Materials Report series. GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green. Each post focuses on one material. We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it has earned. We…
23
Jun
Jun
Last week the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced that it will consider issuing a research lease for Oregon State University to study ocean wave energy off the Oregon coast. Â The Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center is seeking approval to build a test site about 5 miles off the Newport coast to study utility-scale…
20
Jun
Jun
This post is part of the Green Materials Report series. GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green. Each post focuses on one material. We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it has earned. We…
13
Jun
Jun
This post is the first in the Green Materials Report series. GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green. Each post focuses on one material. We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it…
08
Jun
Jun
Green malls in Singapore are saving money and creating a safer shopping experience More shopping malls in Singapore are going green in the global push to be more environmentally friendly, saving energy and water usage. Â Some consultants say they also help to create a safer shopping experience for consumers. There are 32 eco-malls in Singapore…
05
Jun
Jun
A press release from the Green Building Initiative announces the results of an independent study, funded by GBI, comparing the costs for certifying the same building under Green Globes and LEED. Green Globes Certification is Less Expensive to Achieve than LEED, On Same Project, Drexel University Study Reveals Portland, OR – May 13, 2014 –…
04
Jun
Jun
Take a look at this beautiful prefab home, with wood structure and finishes, featured on ArchDaily. The commission had very clear premises: very tight budget, deadlines, and an energy-efficient construction – it inspired this prefab bioclimatic house, fashioned to Passivhaus energy demand standards. The architect, Alventosa Morell Arquitectes, decided to design a completely prefabricated wooden…
04
Jun
Jun
Up until now, parking garages were not able to earn green building certification (LEED does not recognize them). Â That has changed this week, though, with the introduction of the Green Garage Certification program by the Green Parking Council. The Green Garage Certification (GGC) program is the first of its kind, recognizing sustainable practices in designing,…
30
May
May
The newly introduced Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine developed by The Archimedes will allow those in cities to quietly make their own power as easily as their country cousins. Â Besides it’s almost silent operation, the windmill boasts 80% efficiency, much higher than the 25-50% of other turbines. The unit is 5 feet wide, so a…
26
May
May
These futuristic building materials will change the way we construct buildings in the years to come. 1. Graphene Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of carbon. Â It is thin, strong, flexible, conducts electricity, and is virtually transparent. Â Researchers won the 2010 Nobel Prize for Physics for developing graphene. Â It’s potential uses include solar cells, touchscreens,…
22
May
May
Biomimicry is the practice of using nature to inspire design.  It has become more popular as the green building movement has grown.  The Biotic-Tech Skyscraper City by GPT Architecture in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, is inspired by squid, using the qualities of transparency, flexibility, movement and protective pigmentation.  The design was the Jury Winner in the Architizer A+ awards for…
19
May
May
Last week Greenwash Action released its answer to critics of the LEED green building certification program, administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) and the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED has been under attack by proponents of the Green Globes certification program, which is administered by the Green Building Initiative. “LEED Exposed” claims…
14
May
May
The beloved California state bear is taking on another role, as he climbs down from his place on the state flag to spread the word about the importance of energy efficiency. Traveling across the state for the next two weeks, the bear will share ways Californians can take steps to save money by using power…
13
May
May
If you are still working on getting your yard in shape, here are some techniques for water conscious landscaping. Xeriscaping is the art/science of landscaping with reduced need for irrigation. Â It offers several benefits, besides just saving water. Â It requires less maintenance, reduces the need for chemicals and fertilizers, increases property value, reduces air pollution,…
01
May
May
In homage to our previous post on all natural building products, here is a photo collection of earthbag buildings – built from bags of dirt or sand, stacked brick-like, and covered with mud mixed with straw. Divine Nectar retreat cabin –Â This stunning earthbag cabin was built as part of a retreat center in the desert…
28
Apr
Apr
Homes that utilize skylights, in combination with vertical windows, to provide adequate levels of daylight tend to be more energy efficient, according to a study commissioned by VELUX America.  Homes with skylights need less vertical windows to achieve the same amount of daylight.  Less vertical windows increase the energy efficiency of a building. “While we have…