The largest modular green roo, has been installed on top of the new “Court at Upper Providence” shopping center in Pennsylvania. The 2.3 acres green roof was constructed with GreenGrid modules. These modules are made with recycled plastic, and they contain small but hardly plants like sedums.
Largest Modular Green Roof Installed: 2.3 Acres Read More »
Foster + Partners have just been granted preliminary permission to start construction on this volcano-shaped superstructure in Moscow, which will be dubbed “Crystal Island”. In terms of efficiency monolithic buildings like this seem unnecessary, but the proposed dimensions are amazing: it will be 1,500 foot tall with 26,909,776 foot squared of floor space, that’s enough
The Largest Building In The World To Be Green Read More »
The “Energy Plus” office building, to be located outside of Paris, is designed to produce all its own energy for heating, lighting and air conditioning. This zero-energy building, according to the designers, will be the greenest office building ever created. It will accomplish this by having more solar panels on its roof than any other
The “Energy Plus” Building Produces All Its Own Power Read More »
This 42-story apartment tower, under construction at Elephant and Castle in London, will feature a roof with an array of integrated wind turbines. The three turbines are each nine meters in diameter and are design to provide power the building’s lighting systems.
Apartment Tower To Feature Integrated Wind Turbines Read More »
Atlanta will soon be home to the Eco-Lofts, a condominium development that will run on 100% wind power. Located in Chamblee (just outside Atlanta), Eco-Lofts will feature loft-style condos that will range in price from $200,000 to $500,000. The entire building qualifies as EarthCraft, which is a local green building program that is similar to
“Eco-Lofts” In Atlanta: 100% Wind Powered Read More »
The new head offices for Manitoba Hydro, in downtown Winnipeg, will be a model for extreme climate design. Winnipeg is one of the coldest large cities in the world. Temperatures vary 100 degrees over a year. The design of the 700,000 ft² office tower is targeting a 60%+ reduction in energy consumption, through the use
Manitoba Hydro Tower: 60% Energy Savings, 100% Fresh Air, Maximum Daylight Read More »
This complex is a storage facility to be built by Portland City Storage on the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland. It will have a glass tower rising more than 22 stories and enclosing a giant mechanical arm capable of lifting 40,000 pounds (to conserve valuable riverfront land).
Portland City Storage: 175,000 SF Of Solar Cells Read More »
This apartment complex, dubbed the The Falls, is to be built in Victoria, Canada. The aparments will certainly be green on the outside — it features a series of cascading waterfalls and ponds pouring over the building’s exterior. In addition to the water, it will feature spacious decks and terraces, some with outdoor gas fireplaces,
The Falls: Green Apartments In Canada Read More »
In Gifu Prefecture, Japan, there is an unusual solar building called the Solar Ark, built by Sanyo. It’s one of the most impressive solar buildings in the world. Passengers on high-speed bullet trains can’t help but notice the edifice as they ride past on a nearby railway line. The building was built to symbolize the
The Solar Ark: A Unique Solar Building In Japan Read More »
In Fukuoka City in Japan, they have an amazing building called “ACROS Fukuoka” with two very distinct sides: one side looks like a conventional office building with glass walls, but on the other side there is a huge terraced roof that merges with a park. The garden terraces, which reach up to about 60 meters
Amazing Green Building: The ACROS Fukuoka Read More »
Last year’s trash could become next year’s model home, thanks to the invention of a new type of construction material made entirely from waste products. “Bitublocks,” created by engineer John Forth of the University of Leeds in England, are composed of recycled glass, sewage sludge, incinerator ash, the by-products of metal purification and pulverized fuel
Efficient Concrete Replacement: Blocks of Trash Read More »
Most modern buildings don’t take full advantage of daylight. Here, in the Plaza at PPL Center, a dramatic eight-story central glass atrium brings natural light deep into the core of the building, while extensive perimeter glazing provides abundant daylight.
Optimal Green: Daylighting Read More »
Here’s an example of daylighting at the Hong Kong Science Park. Notice that the light is filtered through translucent skylights and clerestories in a central atrium, thus reducing glare and overheating. The top of the building has shades, see them after the jump: Sunshades are extensively incorporated into the external facades to shield direct sunlight
Daylighting and Shading: Green Building In Hong Kong Read More »
This is the new Ballard Library in Seattle. It’s a state-of-the-art green building which makes use of a sod roof, daylighting, and translucent thin-film solar collectors from Schott. It is listed in the American Institute of Architecture’s top ten green buildings.
Green Building Using Thin-Film Solar Read More »
This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we’ve seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author’s
Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide Read More »
People often think of using solar energy for producing electricity, but it is actually easier to harness the power of the sun to heat your home. It’s free heat that has been utilized since ancient times but few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. The Solar House, by Dan Chiras, explains architectural
The Solar House: Free Heating Read More »
“Effective Microorganisms” or EM is a formula of specially selected microbes which can be used for many applications. For example, they are a metaefficient compost additive. If you add a mixture of them to your kitchen compost and it will decompose more quickly and with less odor.
Effective Microorganisms or EM Read More »
Earth sheltered houses make use of earth or “berms” for protection against the natural elements. These homes can be complete underground homes, or homes which are protected by earth on just one side. The major advantage of this style of building is that the house has a constant and comfortable temperature throughout the year, so
Earth Sheltered Houses Read More »
