Category Archives: Construction
03
Aug
Aug
Used in a wide variety of ways in the building construction market, aluminum is a very versatile green building material, especially when it’s recycled. Everything from huge external building structures to delicate window blinds can be manufactured from this lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant metal. Doors, windows, and awnings are popular products made from this material,…
02
Aug
Aug
Artificial turf isn’t just for mini golf and football stadiums anymore! It has become the go-to product for homeowners suffering through drought or trying to reduce their water consumption. Tanner Shepard, owner of LawnPop, an Austin, TX turf installation company, says that their brand has been growing at a rapid pace. “Synthetic grass was a…
28
Jul
Jul
Green building materials are as diverse as Earth itself. Some of the most sustainable materials on the planet are modern inventions, and some are as old as the hills, like adobe. Familiarizing yourself with the best green building materials will help ensure your environmentally friendly projects enjoy sustainable success. Over the next several weeks, watch…
22
Jun
Jun
Researchers at Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi have created a new coating for glass that blocks heat transfer at less cost than traditional methods.
03
May
May
Far south, a few degrees north of the Equator, the plastic bottle is being smartly repurposed as a residential building insulation material. We visit Panama, where on an 83-acre jungle locale, 90 to 120 planned homes will be insulated by thousands of plastic bottles which have been recovered from the waste stream. The individual behind…
09
Mar
Mar
Yes, you read the title correctly – reversible concrete! It seems like an oxymoron – concrete is known for its stability and strength, and its permanence. Well, not anymore! Last October at the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Self-Assembly Lab at MIT and Gramazio Kohler Research of ETH Zurich showed off a process that might finally one-up…
23
Jan
Jan
When asked what is a highly desired feature outside of the house, a good number of people will first select an exterior deck or porch. Here’s why: if done well, it makes an inviting place to visit with family or friends to enjoy summer cookouts, or simply as a great place to sit back, relax,…
04
Dec
Dec
Welcome to Part II of our interview series with John Perlin on forests. Perlin is author of “A Forest Journey: the Story of Wood and Civilization,” an important book that has now come out in its third edition. Our topic? Our forests and our civilization. Perlin details the place of forests and wood in our civilization’s evolution. In…
26
Oct
Oct
GreenScreen is a framework for companies that manufacture building materials to evaluate the toxicity of the chemicals they use and to suggest alternatives.
07
Oct
Oct
Kebony, an environmentally safe manufactured wood product, has been used to transform a traditional Norwegian home and bring it to Passive House standards.
20
Aug
Aug
We still live in a time when we do plenty things that are very harmful to our planet. It seems we’re all aware that fossil fuels like oil and coal create a considerable portion of our greenhouse gas pollution. But many people don’t understand that we also do a lot of harm to our planet with…
19
Jul
Jul
Hempcrete is made from hemp fiber, lime and water. When cured, it floats, has excellent insulating power. It’s fireproof and resists insects and termites.
07
Jul
Jul
This is part two of our posts on R-value. Read the first post to get a definition of R-value and find out what it means to you. Doors and Windows As much as we love, and need, doors and windows, they are not good for a building’s insulation value. Doors open and close, allowing air…
01
Jul
Jul
What Is R-Value For Insulation? Simply put, R-value is a measurement of how insulating a building material is, protecting one side from the heat or cold on the other side. A higher R-value means that a material insulates better than one with a lower value. In order to get an idea of what these…
23
Jun
Jun
A new company in Portland, Oregon is gearing up to manufacture large quantities of the latest product in the ICF (insulated concrete forms) world. BluBloc offers a twist on standard ICF products – it uses recycled styrofoam instead of manufacturing new for use in the forms. BluBloc is 85% recycled polystyrene foam (styrofoam) and…
04
Jun
Jun
Researchers at the University of Sydney are using discarded macadamia nut shells to make 3D printed microtimber for specialized exterior uses.
08
May
May
Rammed earth is cheap, tough and green and has been around for centuries. But modern architects are just rediscovering its many uses in construction.
30
Mar
Mar
A new study shows that straw bale buildings are carbon neutral. The analysis looked at the cost of growing the straw to the buildings end of useful life.