News

Tiny Techtonics Timber Urban Infill Wins Passivhaus Trust Award

July 27, 2016

Architecture, Companies of Interest, Design

Techtonics Architects has won the coveted Passivhaus Trust award, featuring its tiny techtonics timber urban infill home. Designed by Techtonics Architects, the firm describes the design which was used: “We have just completed a new build ‘Passivhaus’, a very low energy construction following principles for comfort and energy developed in Germany by the Passivhaus Institute based on high insulation, low air leakage and control of ventilation. “The 2-storey house consists of an in-situ reinforced concrete lower level, half sunken from street…

Brick In Architecture 2016 Award Winners

July 27, 2016

Architecture, Companies of Interest, Design, Materials

The 2016 Brick in Architecture awards have been released. According to the press announcement, these awards were judged by a jury of peers. They feature 32 Best in Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in 17 states and Canada, awarded in seven categories: Commercial, Educational (Higher Education), Educational (K-12), Healthcare, Municipal/Government, Residential (Multifamily) and Residential (Single Family). “These winners demonstrate the best of brick’s aesthetic flexibility, and as a material made from abundant natural resources, it’s a perfect strategy in…

Video Shows Case for More Wood Buildings

July 26, 2016

Climate Change, Materials, Natural Resources

Wood buildings store carbon, instead of burning it up in manufacturing and production, as is the case for steel and concrete. A video recently released by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute makes the case for increased use of wood in building construction, even in multi-level highrises. The use of wood is increasing in many types of commercial projects. The video seeks to enhance public understanding of how building more structures with wood helps address pressing global challenges such as population growth…

Top Prize Solar Bus Shelter Offers Rain Protection & More

July 22, 2016

Design, Energy Storage, Solar

The greatly-underestimated public bus shelter is the latest subject of a creative solar power makeover. When competition winners were announced on June 30, 2016, an innovative new set of designs entered the high-tech highway to solar-powered shelters. With solar-powered glow-in-the-dark lighting, the top prize-winning bus shelter offers way more than just protection from the rain. Promoting Climate Change Awareness Through Public Art The 2016 Design Competition for a Solar Powered Shelter was conducted by CoLLaboratoire, a Canadian non-profit organization based…

Brownfield Development Web Site Links Project Team Members

July 21, 2016

Companies of Interest, Sustainability

Brownfield developments, sites or buildings that have environmental contamination, are not usually the most desirable projects. However, a web site called Brownfield Listings is giving these projects a new lease on life. A small town in Missouri wanted to convert an abandoned school into a community center and emergency shelter. It put out three requests for proposals for their brownfield development to find contractors and designers willing to work on the site that was contaminated with lead paint, asbestos, and…

How To Build A Wind Turbine

July 19, 2016

Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

This ‘How-To’ was originally published on CleanTechnica There is something remarkable in watching a wind turbine capturing the energy of the wind and converting it into clean electricity. For those unsure of a wind turbines workings, the Department of Energy provides this overview: “Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.” Windmills…

New York City’s Lowline To Be World’s First Underground Park

July 19, 2016

Design, Solar

Instead of talking about the marvelous skyscrapers in New York City, they may soon be able to marvel at the Lowline, the world’s first underground park. New York City is now considering building the world’s first underground park in an abandoned trolley terminal. “The Lowline is a plan to use innovative solar technology to illuminate an historic trolley terminal on the Lower East Side of New York City. Our vision is a stunning underground park, providing a beautiful respite and…

Stress-Free Solar Panel Mounts for Tile Rooftops Shine at InterSolar

July 18, 2016

Companies of Interest, Products, Solar

Launching the premier solar event in North America, Intersolar is spreading solar energy all over San Francisco this week from July 12 through 14. This is our continent’s most-attended solar event, with over 500 solar and energy innovations on exhibition. With so many great booths to explore, let’s just dive in and take a look at some cool new solar panel mounts that caught my eye. Quick Mount PV, a local manufacturer of solar panel mounts in Walnut Creek, is…

On The Smaller Side Of Houses, Meet GreenPod

July 12, 2016

Architecture, Design, Green Homes

A recent visit to treehugger has provided us with a great resource for the smaller side of the housing spectrum: GreenPod. It appears modular and prefab homes are finally gaining some mainstream traction, states treehugger author Kimberley Mok. For people interested in getting an eco-friendly home relatively quick, going prefab can be an easier route with less headaches. “Woman-owned GreenPod Development, LLC creates green-jobs by building new modular and sitebuilt homes with healthy interiors and furnishings. GreenPod assures basic human needs: clean water,…

Pig Manure Bioadhesive Produces Alternative To Asphalt Paving

July 5, 2016

Construction News, Products

A newly discovered pig manure bioadhesive has been developed by civil engineer Ellie Fini and a team at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Turns out the oils in swine manure are similar to petroleum, but are too low-grade for gasoline and perfect for asphalt. First, just to be clear, the asphalt created with this pig manure bioadhesive does not create an offensive odor. The odor-causing parts of the manure are removed during processing. “It is different from petroleum refinery,…

NEXT Solar Window Coating Generates Free Electricity From Sunlight

June 29, 2016

Products, Solar

NEXT Energy Technologies has developed a scalable solar window coating that allows commercial glass products to produce clean energy from the sun. The product pays for itself in a year and provides clean energy for up to 30 years. “It is certainly not an overstatement to describe this technology as a game-changer with far-reaching implications for architecture and buildings of the future,” said Daniel Emmett, CEO and co-founder of NEXT Energy Tech. “We foresee a time in the near future…

LEED Homes Award Winners for 2015 Announced

June 28, 2016

Green Homes, LEED

USGBC announced the recipients of its annual LEED Homes Awards, which recognize projects, architects, developers and homebuilders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in the residential green building marketplace. “Homes represent a critical piece of the buildings industry and our daily life,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “We applaud these amazing honorees for their significant contribution to greening the residential sector by implementing strategies that positively impact the environment and enhance the health and well-being of…

Concrete Brise Soleil Cools Sustainable Building In Ghana

June 25, 2016

Commercial Buildings, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability

One Airport Square in Accra, Ghana uses an innovative brise soleil of concrete to let light in while keeping heat out, which greatly reduces the cost of cooling.

Thermoslate Solar Thermal System Integrates Unseen Into Slate Roof

June 24, 2016

Design, Energy, Green Homes

The Thermoslate solar thermal system from Spanish slate company Cupa Pizarras is worth observing. Here’s why: a structure’s slate roof can absorb a massive amount of heat and because of this stone, it has good thermal mass and holds it for some time, reports treehugger. In the Thermoslate system, slate roof tiles are integrated with thermal cells where heat is collected. The end product supplies hot water which can be used for various domestic purposes, including solar water heating. As shown in this…

Low Cost Coating For Glass Enhances Sustainability Of Buildings

June 22, 2016

Energy Efficiency, Materials, Science

Researchers at Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi have created a new coating for glass that blocks heat transfer at less cost than traditional methods.

Welsh Designer Creates Portable And Sustainable Homes

June 21, 2016

Solar Air Conditioning System Uses Heat To Cool Spaces

June 20, 2016

Commercial Buildings, Solar

CSIRO’s solar air conditioning system now sits on top of a major shopping center in Australia, and it is saving energy by using heat from the sun to cool the air in the center. The system uses concentrating solar thermal technology to produce heat energy used to power the air conditioning system. It is a “closed-loop” air conditioner, meaning it heats and cools air within the building without introducing any external air into the system, with a pair of “desiccant” (drying)…

Humanihut Makes Portable Refugee Shelters (w/Video)

June 18, 2016

Green Homes, Refugee Shelters

HUmanihut is an Australian start-up company that makes refugee shelters that are highly portable and durable. They contain sanitary facilities as well as living and sleeping quarters.