Some people install one or two solar panels on their roof, others take the plunge and go for solar heating but few build an entire housing estate with solar sustainability in mind.
Canada now has a community of 52 homes built specifically to take advantage of solar energy. Okotoks, located in Alberta, can generate 1.5 mega-watts of thermal power during a normal summer day from its 800 solar panels located on the garages of each house. As Alberta has hard winters and often sees temperatures of –33 much of the energy generated in the summer is stored underground in thermal borehole storage ‘tanks’.
The houses in the community are insulated to 30% above the average Canadian home so that they can take advantage of the stored underground heat. This is pumped around the community to heat the homes and provide hot water.
More details about the Drake Landing Solar Community can be found on their website: www.dlsc.ca
[Via Ecofriend]
Canadian Solar Community
Solar Powered Video Screen - XXL
Video walls are now part of many major cities - used for advertising, information and, sometimes, art. Beijing is about to officially switch on what is thought to be the world’s largest.
Located on the entire side of the Xicui Entertainment Complex building in Beijing, China, ready for the Olympics, the GreenPix-Zero Energy Media Wall is made up of energy efficient LEDs, can show 2,292 individual colours and is equivalent to a monitor screen covering 24,000 square feet.
The entire screen is solar powered using photovoltaic panels built directly into the structure. During the day they collect energy, which is stored ready for powering the screen at night. The wall was designed by architects Simone Giostra & Partners, New York, with the lighting design and facade engineered by Arup in London and Beijing.
The building will open to the public this month, with a specially commissioned program of video installations and live performances by artists from China, Europe and the US.
More details at images at www.greenpix.org
Built in Turbines Generate Building's Power
What is thought to be the world’s first commercial building with integrated wind turbines just opened.
The Bahrain World Trade Center incorporates three 29 meter diameter blades into the main structure of this landmark building. Mounted between two elliptical towers the turbines are expected to generate 11-15% of the power needed by the building once fully operational. The shape of the supporting towers means that they act a little like aerofoils, funneling and accelerating the wind towards the blades. The location of the building means that it can use the onshore breeze from the adjacent Gulf.
One of the reasons more new buildings do not incorporate this type of technology is because of the additional costs involved. This building has been able to reduce those extras to around 3.5% of the overall project value which seems to make it financially viable as well as eco friendly. Strangely they only expect to operate the turbines for 50% of the time.
[Via: Businesswire ]
Green Parliament in Germany
Germany has always prided itself on its eco credentials and now the Reichstag is reported to become the greenest parliament building in the world.
When it was refurbished in the 1990’s, ready for the move of Parliament from Bonn back to Berlin, its glass cupola, designed by Sir Norman Foster, was not only seen as an architectural beacon but also helped make the building more energy efficient. The Reichstag managed to cut its carbon emissions by 94% after the refurbishment.
Now, they are going one step further and this summer will switch completely to renewable energy which includes wind, water and solar. The massive glass cupola already provides passive solar power and bio fuel is used in generators in the basement to provide 40% of the building’s energy. Currently the other 60% comes from coal and nuclear generation. This will be replaced, using outside suppliers with renewable sources.
Nothing like leading by example!!
[ Via: Metaefficient ]
Build an Eco Home for £4,000
Some people recycle, some try to reduce energy and others build their own eco homes. Judging by the cost of the green alternatives building your own eco home would cost a fortune but Steve James managed it for around £4,000!
Located in Dumfries, Scotland, Steve’s house is made from natural and recycled materials. Walls are made of straw bales and the roof is green (literally) as it is covered in turf and has flowers growing in it.
Add to this a composting toilet, woodburning stove, rainwater collecting system and you have all you need for a basic house. James points out that..
“Actually, you could make it for less than that. I’d cut the wood myself next time instead of going to the sawmill. That would knock off a thousand.”
[Via: The Independent]
Spinning Street Lights
As cities begin to realise that they can reduce their energy consumption by switching to eco lighting, this wind and solar 'street' light might be an indicator of things to come.
Located at the Panasonic Center in Tokyo, the lights incorporates solar cells for daylight energy collection and a spinning column to generate power from wind. The energy is stored in the base of the lamp post for use at night.
Not only does Panasonic have some of the most unusual outside lighting but a kinetic sculpture as well. The center was built with the intention of reducing its energy consumption by almost 30% and has a number of other 'eco' initiatives including rainwater utilisation and inbuilt solar lighting.
More details at: panasonic.co.jp
[Via: Hyperexperience]
Green that Roof
Green, growing, roofs are not new in the architecture field, but this one is a stunner.
The new construction is part of the School of Art and Design at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore. The curved grassy roofs top a 5 storey glass fronted building which nestles in a wooded area of the university campus. Housed inside are digital sound and vision studios as well as a sound stage, recording studios and video post production studios.
There is access to the three interlinked roof areas via steps so that they can be used as a scenic, outdoor, communal area. Apart from looking beautiful and helping the building blend into its wooded environment, the roofs help lower building temperature and also that of the surrounding area. Makes you wonder what the art produced inside is like.
More details on the University website: www.ntu.edu.sg
[Via: Inhabitat]
Flat Packed Lighting
‘Stealth’ is made from polypropylene plastic, which is easy to recycle at the end of its life and uses low energy bulbs. These types of bulbs have given designers a greater degree of freedom as they produce very little heat and can be fitted into small spaces.
Stealth comes flat packed, with six interchangeable filters so you can select the colour of your light to match your surroundings – or mood.
Designed by Blue Marmalade, a Scottish based company, this architectural light can be used on a table or free standing. Not only is it low energy but also comes in recycled cardboard packaging!
At the moment it is on offer at www.ecocentric.co.uk for £32.00
Eco Lighting for Everyone
There is something about a city skyline, illuminated at night, which ads spectacle and intrigue to the places we love.
On the one hand we want to reduce our carbon footprint, energy consumption and budget but on the other we want our cities to look spectacular at night.
In London the National Theatre is trying to find a way to be both eco friendly and remain a beacon on the South Bank. In a 5-year partnership with Philips they are renewing the external and internal lighting of their building complex.
During September they completed the first phase and changed their external lighting. The results (suggested by Philips) are a 70 % reduction in the energy required to illuminate the distinctive, but daylight ugly, flytowers.
It seems that once the entire project is compete the theatre hopes to save £100,000 annually which they want to reinvest in theatrical productions.
More details at the community website London SE1
Recycled Light Tubes
As we replace old light bulbs we have a problem. It seems we shouldn't be throwing them in our bins but disposing of them 'responsibly'. If the WEEE directive works then you can, theoretically, give your old bulbs back to the shop you buy your new bulbs from, but I’m wondering what the reaction will be at your local discount supermarket.
One solution is not to throw them away at all but to reuse them. You can do this yourself, with the ‘Bulbs Unlimited' kit below, or have a look at Castor Design.
This Canadian based design group make light fittings using recycled florescent tubes. If you think of how many of these there are in our offices and industrial building, it helps if they can have an extended life when they flicker and die.
Castor Design build the old tubes into - well tubes – and then fit them with new incandescent bulbs to illuminate them from within. Low marks for the fact that they use energy guzzling incandescent bulbs (why not energy saving ones?) but top marks for innovative design and something fresh from difficult to dispose of waste.
You can even send them your old “architecturally significant” tubes and they will make a new light for you for half price. No indication, on the highly animated website, of costs but certainly worth a look for inspiration alone.
www.castordesign.ca and select ‘Projects’ and ‘Recycled Tube Light’.
Do it Yourself Light Shade
As the world switches over to low energy light bulbs (a little), there are masses of the old style bulbs being left on the shelf. See the item below.
Rather than bin them why not collect them (if you don’t have enough bulbs yourself rope in your local friends), and make your own recycled light shade?
‘Bulbs Unlimited’ is a German based company which supplies a kit to help you ‘stick’ your light bulbs together in a variety of shapes and forms. The result – a sculptural light shade made from all those old bulbs.
You can attach bulbs together in a variety of shapes and build ‘light objects’ in almost any size you feel fits into your room. What is really nice is that you can also unclip them and make them into a new shape!
Bulbs Unlimited’s web site has a slide show to give you an idea of how it all works (very simple) and you can order a starter pack online. The ‘Rookie-Pack’ contains all the pieces you need to make one light ‘object’ (supply your own light bulbs!) and costs 39.95 Euros + post and packing. Once you get good at this you can add to your ‘construction kit’ and make larger light shades. So, light up your home and recycle your old light bulbs at the same time.
www.bulbs-unlimited.com
Standby Switch off!
We are told that leaving all our electronic bits and pieces on standby is costing the planet dearly – as well as our electricity bills - but switching everything off, in today’s, uber electronic household could take you the better part of a day. Now you can do it at the flick of a switch.
Bye Bye Standby is a set of power adaptors which you simply plug into your wall socket and then plug in your appliance. A single (remote control) switch can switch EVERYTHING off in one go. Look on it as ‘central locking’ for the home! Available as a starter pack from Domia. http://www.simplyautomate.co.uk/search.asp?catid=376&cat2=376
Wind to Light – Art
No one seems to want a wind turbine at the bottom of their garden but they might change their mind when they see these.
Artist Jason Bruges has installed 'Wind to Light', a ‘cloud of light’ made up of tiny wind turbines which power LEDs on London’s South Bank. When the wind blows the LEDs light up to produce a kinetic light cloud – a firefly-like shimmer around the south bank architecture.
Part of this year’s Architecture Week theme of “how green is our space’, the installation illustrates alternative, ways of harnessing energy that explore the power of the wind in the city, visualising it as an ephemeral, luminous cloud.
Being able to visualise the direct relationship between wind power and our environment is difficult – this looks like it does just that with elegance and intelligence.
A short video of the installation is available here.
Solar Garden 'Rock'
If you are going to have rocks in your garden, why not make them useful and get them to light up!
Blending easily into rocky and landscaped areas the solar rock light can be used to accentuate steps, stonewalls, pathways, boundaries and small shrubs. Made from durable materials, its natural rock-like appearance and high output solar components combine to offer the ultimate lighting solution. A highly efficient solar panel also reduces size and charge time.
You might think they cost a fortune but they are available on the Maplin's Solar website for £4.99 each!
What you get:
• Up to 6 hours ambient lighting for your garden or patio each night
• Accent and safety lighting for outdoor areas
• Illuminates automatically during darkness
• No wiring, simply install and enjoy
• 3 ultra-bright white LEDs
• Powered by an integral solar panel
• Dimensions: 15(w) x 11(h) x 10.5(d)cm
• Powered by 1 x AA rechargeable Ni-Cd battery (included)
• No operating costs
First zero-carbon house
Monday was a good day for the zero-carbon debate as the UK government has just recognised the first zero-carbon house by awarding it a stamp duty exemption certificate. For those not living in the UK – stamp duty is a tax payable when you buy property.
Housing minister, Yvette Cooper, handed over the certificate to a prototype house which is the most environmentally friendly home built in the UK. For a buyer this means they do not have to pay the tax and could save around £2,000 on a zero-carbon house costing £200,000.
"A quarter of carbon emissions come from our homes. That's why zero-carbon homes are so important," said Yvette Cooper.
Photo: Peter White, BRE. Used with permission.
[From the Guardian]
Got a lot of hot Air?
In the summer our loft spaces get HOT. There is now a device which will take that heat and convert it into hot water for use in the house! Something for nothing?
The air source heat pump, supplied by Trianco, which looks like a small industrial air conditioning unit, is installed in your loft space and plumed into your hot water tank. It will heat water to around 55 degrees.
As our summers get warmer, this might be just the thing to supply your hot water needs. "But it must use electricity to keep it going I hear you ask" – well Trianco claim that for every unit of energy purchased as electricity to run the pump, several units of heat are delivered, making it up to four times more effective than other heaters (gas and oil systems). www.trianco.co.uk
Biodegradable Furniture
US based, British designer Julian Lwin produces objects using Eco or recycled elements. His Bio Tube Bench is constructed using cardboard tubes with embedded seeds. This can be grasses, herbs or wildflowers. You water it, the bench sprouts and, eventually, biodegrades so you can have a place to sit in the garden and allow it to become part of the garden once it has degraded. Visit Lwin Design for more details.
Recycled Light Shade
In December we featured a chandelier made using Bic pens and now, something even more eco friendly in the shape of an elegant light shade/sculpture made from recycled rubbish.
Berlin based, British designer, Stewart Haygarth has produced this “Tide” chandelier as part of a larger body of work using ‘man made’ debris washed up on the Kent coastline. This large lamp measures 150 cm in diameter and is illuminated using a 100w incandescent light bulb. There are ten in the edition and price is on request.
Haygarth has also made light shades using discarded party poppers and disposable plastic wine glasses. His site is well worth a look. www.stuarthaygarth.com
Now, where’s that pen?
People, all over the world, just can’t find a pen when they want one. Millions are missing and one design studio aims to recycle them.
The Madrid based studio enPieza has produced the Volivik chandelier, replacing all those cut glass prisms with Bic ball point pens. The edition is limited to 30 and will set you back a substantial $1,000. You might be inspired to make your own? Normally objects made from recycled products tend to disguise the original – here you can marvel as the light twinkles through your Bic.
