News

Smart Surface Technologies Could Save DC $5 Billion

January 4, 2017
Health, Solar, Water Management

A recent study says that smart surface technologies could save Washington, D.C. $5 billion over 40 years. The report, Achieving Urban Resilience: Washington, D.C., authored by Capital E, documents and quantifies the large-scale environmental, health and economic benefits that smart surface technologies could provide. “How cities manage the sunlight and rain that falls on them has a huge impact on inhabitants’ health and quality of life,” the report begins. “But city leaders and planners generally do not manage or even…

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What Technological Development Will Most Reduce Climate Change?

December 29, 2016
Climate Change, Energy

Answer the question above and you could win a trip to Masdar to join Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week as a VIP guest! Masdar hosts an annual blogging contest and the winner (flight + accommodation covered by Masdar) joins the VIP Media group for exclusive opportunities and access at several key events, to leading cleantech projects, and with global cleantech leaders. Our sister-site Cleantechnica provides more details about the contest and how to enter: This year’s blogging contest topic is: “Masdar’s Global GenZ…

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Canada To Reduce HFC Emissions By 85% By 2036

December 23, 2016
Climate Change, Sustainability

HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) emissions contribute to climate change, and Canada and many other nations are taking a stand to reduce their emissions by 85% in the next 20 years. HFCs are commonly found in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam products, and other items world-wide. Current global HFC emissions are the equivalent of approximately 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. That is the same as emissions from nearly 300 coal-fired power plants or over 200 million passenger vehicles driven for one year, and…

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AGU Headquarters Net Zero Renovation to Begin March 2017

December 22, 2016
Design, Energy Efficiency, Solar

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) announced that they will be undertaking a major renovation of their headquarters in Washington, DC, with the hope of bringing the building to net zero status. This net zero renovation project is set to begin construction in March 2017. The 62,000 square foot office building, located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, will strive to keep its historic look while upgrading its systems to reach the net zero goal. Net zero buildings use only as much…

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Calatrava’s Sundial Bridge Was Spawned by Salmon

December 16, 2016
Architecture, Design, Inspiring Pics, Sustainability

Spawned by the need to protect a seemingly insignificant patch of gravel, not many folks know that Redding’s iconic Sundial Bridge rose as a result of an eco-challenge surmountable only by architect Santiago Calatrava’s sensitive and innovative expertise. Abandoned since the long-gone days of mining in Redding, California, submerged quarry beds along the north shore of the Sacramento River have historically served as spawning grounds for Chinook salmon. Four endangered runs form a 300-mile upriver stretch ultimately guiding an annual…

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Masdar City Launches Phase 2 Master Plan

November 17, 2016
Architecture, Design, Sustainability

The fascinating cleantech evolution of Masdar City continues! Pushing the limits of urban design and community building, Masdar City is pressing forward in its pioneering quest for the highest quality of life with the lowest carbon footprint. Setting a new international precedent for sustainable urban planning, Boston-based CBT is presenting its award-winning Detailed Master Plan for Phase 2 of the “greenest city on Earth.” Recognizing its “leadership in design excellence, urban design and planning,” CBT’s detailed master plan (DMP) for…

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CleanFund Offers PACE Financing for Commercial Solar Power Projects

November 14, 2016
Energy Efficiency, Government Policy, Renewable Energy

CleanFund and Soligent partnered this summer to begin offering PACE financing to non-residential solar power projects across the United States. These funding options allow building owners to pay for clean energy and energy efficiency investments through their property tax bill. → Related product: Commercial metal buildings PACE Funding Property Assessed Clean Energy financing is a program that allows commercial and multifamily building owners to make improvements that improve energy efficiency, increase water efficiency, or provide renewable energy and finance them through an…

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Mizrahi Developments’ The One: pushing forward sustainable design

November 14, 2016
Sponsored Post

Constructing landmark buildings that are forward-thinking while still retaining classical architectural elements is not new for Mizrahi Developments. The firm was founded in 2008 by Sam Mizrahi to realize an ambition of introducing quality, craftsmanship and a classical sense of permanence to luxury homes, qualities that Mizrahi thought were lacking in Toronto real estate development.

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Energy Management System Released By Zen Ecosystems

October 25, 2016
Companies of Interest, Energy, Energy Efficiency

Zen Ecosystems has announced the launch of Zen HQ, a simple and cost-effective energy management solution. Zen HQ has been designed for enterprises with multiple locations using a connected platform which reduces annual energy bills by as much as 30%. Assessing US energy management for commercial structures The US EPA estimates this country’s commercial buildings waste approximately $60 billion in energy costs annually. Of the 5.5 million commercial buildings in the United States, less than 20% have installed energy management…

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Masdar City: A Test Case for Sustainable Urban Living

October 14, 2016
Architecture, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Sustainability

Sweltering in the hot desert sun, Masdar City sits under a global microscope at the nexus of rising clean technology and the development of sustainable urban life in the glaring light of climate change. Conceived on a zero-moisture stretch of barren desert sand in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the zero-carbon, zero-waste settlement of Masdar City has diligently sustained itself through every struggle and step of progress. Masdar City: A Living, Striving Test Case for Earth’s Future As the warming effects of…

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Eco-Friendly Ways to Manage Industrial Waste

October 14, 2016
Sponsored Post

Regardless of the specific type, industrial waste can create hazards for you, your company and your community as well as the environment. Industrial chemicals and liquid waste create a hazardous situation but even dry waste such as metal, building materials and more, can create problems such as offering pests a refuge, being risk-laden and more. Efficient and safe disposal of industrial waste is not only crucial to protecting yourself and your business, it is the law in many locations. Here…

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Public/Private-Sector Collaboration Showcased In 2016 Smart City Challenge

October 12, 2016
Sponsored Post

Planning a smart city for the future involves planners, architects, engineers, and designers– rather than bureaucrats, bureaucracies, and politics as usual. According to the Smart Cities Council, a smart city is “one that has digital technology embedded across all city functions.” And per Frost & Sullivan, there are eight elements (each with the word “smart” in front of it) that make up a smart city: governance, building, health care, mobility, infrastructure, technology, energy, and citizens. The 2016 Smart City Challenge encourages cities to embrace…

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arc Online Platform Will Drive Green Building Performance

October 10, 2016
Construction News, LEED

A new online platform, arc, announced at this year’s Greenbuild conference, will allow buildings to measure their energy performance against several green building rating systems, benchmark energy use against similar buildings, and make improvements. LEED-certified buildings can use arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them. Buildings that have not certified yet will be able to use arc to make incremental sustainability improvements and eventually achieve LEED certification. “The LEED rating system revolutionized the design, construction and…

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Canada Tops Out World’s Tallest Wood-Frame Building

October 5, 2016
Architecture, Construction News, Government Policy, Natural Resources

Celebrating the tallest wood-frame building of its kind anywhere in the world, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr recently attended the “topping out” ceremony of the Brock Commons Residence. The new University of British Columbia student housing tower rises 18 stories to reach a stunning 178.8 feet (53 meters) tall. Under construction at the University of British Columbia Point Grey campus, the CA$51.5 million mass timber structure is a hybrid system comprised of cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs, glulam…

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