News

Canada To Reduce HFC Emissions By 85% By 2036

December 23, 2016

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…

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…

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…

The Sights and Sounds of a Sustainable Lifestyle

December 15, 2016

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What can you undertake at home for a more sustainable lifestyle?

Sustainable Home Design with Eco Living Japan, a Book Review

December 4, 2016

Book Reviews, Design

Japan has a long history of sustainable home design that brings in natural elements. Learn about the history and culture of green building in Japan.

Bali Living: Innovative Tropical Design on the Island of the Gods

December 4, 2016

Book Reviews, Design

Bali Living: Innovative Tropical Design is a gorgeous book highlighting the natural design elements that form the basis of new Balinese architecture, like bamboo, coconut, plants, and water elements.

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…

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. 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 assessment that is added…

Mizrahi Developments’ The One: pushing forward sustainable design

November 14, 2016

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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.

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…

Workers In Green Certified Buildings Are Healthier And Happier

October 16, 2016

Health, Science

A new study by the Harvard school of public health and SUNY upstate medical university finds that workers in green certified building have higher cognitive function than their peers in non-certified buildings.

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…

Eco-Friendly Ways to Manage Industrial Waste

October 14, 2016

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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…

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

October 12, 2016

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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…

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…

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…

SEIA Launches PV Recycling Program

September 30, 2016

Construction News, Energy, Solar

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) plans on collaborating with companies like First Solar, SunPower, Flex, JinkoSolar, Panasonic, SolarCity, and Trina Solar as part of a new solar PV recycling program. As SEIA published in mid-September, it has launched a first-of-its-kind national PV recycling program. Of note, this program is designed to ensure the sustainability of the US solar market. In collaborating with major solar companies and developers, SEIA has established a state-of-the-art network of recyclers who are able to handle PV…

UL Courting Solar Market With New Acquisition

September 29, 2016

Companies of Interest, Construction News, Renewable Energy

This article was originally published on Planetsave Independent global testing and certification body UL (Underwriters Laboratory) has acquired renewable energy engineering services and support firm, AWS Truepower for an unspecified sum. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) announced its AWS Truepower acquisition will strengthen its full lifecycle solutions. “There is strong alignment between the two brands,” said Jeffrey Smidt, vice president & general manager for UL Energy & Power Technologies. “UL and AWS Truepower have a shared mission and complementary businesses. As the market for renewable…