Wind and Solar Powered Cronos Yacht is Made of Bamboo Panels

We're not completely sold on the excess so often associated with yachting, but Simone Madella and Lorenzo Berselli have designed the wind and solar powered Cronos yacht that is made almost entirely out of bamboo panels. Still in the design concept, this svelte machine will glide through the water without leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, and very little waste is involved in the construction process.

Compressed waste bamboo makes a beautiful panel that is so much healthier for the earth than the fiberglass typically used, and it is exceptionally renewable since it is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. It also supports excellent acoustics so that being inside the yacht as it slaps against the water will still be comfortable. Walls of the engine room, which holds two electric engines, will be clad in Halite — a fabric that absorbs 15% of the room’s heat and converts it into electricity that can feed back into the battery.

Chin Ua solar glass — a transparent solar panel frequently used in Germany, Japan, and China — will generate additional energy, which should be fairly consistent since the boat is only likely to be out at the same time as the sun. And finally, the design team hopes to incorporate a wind belt that looks like an aeolian harp. It has strings that produce energy when hit by the wind and it is 10-30 times more efficient than a standard micro turbine. If all yachts were like this, we’d be on board!

Groundbreaking Park Royal Tower is Draped with Curtains of Greenery in Singapore

WOHA Architects are completely changing how skyscrapers are built with their Park Royal Tower in Singapore, which will feature twice as much greenery as the nearby Hong Lim Park. The high-end office and hotel tower features a podium absolutely overrun with vertical gardens, contoured green pathways, water features, and leafy terraces. When it is completed later this year, this groundbreaking project will boast a whopping 15,000 square meters of green space!

Park Royal’s leafy podium on Pickering is designed to be a vertical extension of the Hong Lim Park right across the way and at 15,000 square meters of natural features, is twice as large! The contoured facade is planted with shade trees, palms, overhanging creepers and a variety of other plant species that not only disguise the above ground parking lot but also scrub the air clean of any emissions produced there. This isn’t a skyscraper. This is a jungle in the sky that just happens to accommodate business travelers and office workers.

Although the building is constructed out of concrete, which has a high embodied carbon footprint, the overall environmental impact is mitigated by the extensive planting and kept to a minimum with pre-fabricated parts and open sides that promote natural lighting and ventilation throughout the building. Rooftop photovoltaic panels will provide energy for reticulation and softscape lighting and a rainwater harvesting system will ensure that no new water will be used to irrigate the green spaces. In other words, this ambitious urban design will be almost completely self-sustaining. It’s no wonder, then, that it has received Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum score, the nation’s highest environmental certification!

Ole Scheeren’s Floating Cinema in Thailand is Made of Recycled Materials

Floating on a raft in Thailand is an experience that dreams are made of, but add Ole Scheeren's cinema to the equation and you'll basically feel like you died and went to heaven. Designed as a theater for the Film on the Rocks Yao Noi Film Festival, the Archipelago Cinema was nestled between two verdant rocks in the middle of Nai Pi Lae Lagoon near Kudu Island. The lucky guests were floated out to watch a nighttime film in what was described as a surreal and almost primordial cinematic experience.

The extraordinary modular, reusable structure was made entirely out of recycled materials in accordance with vernacular Thai architecture. Everything can be reused or recycled, and local people were employed to do the job. Now that the film festival is complete, Archipelago Cinema will be donated to the Yao Noi community that built it in the first place. The wooden, floating auditorium will be used as a floating playground and stage! We really can’t think of a better way to watch a movie than being immersed in one of the world’s most majestic natural locations.

Green Building Ideas to Improve Indoor Air

Here are some green building ideas that will help maintain healthy indoor air in your home. Green construction methods can also decrease your energy usage too.

Radon

Radon gas is a major indoor air contaminate. It is estimated that 15% of all homes in the US have elevated levels of radon above the EPA's action level of 4pCi/L. But keep in mind that there action level is not a health based number. So the EPA suggests fixing homes even if the level falls between 2pCi/L and 4pCi/L since radon is a radioactive gas. Can you test before you build? Not really, but you can add a passive system that works as a safety valve to release this lung cancer causing gas.

Moisture

Excessive moisture invites an array of unwanted problems in our homes. Some of these major issues are pests, dust mites, rot and mold. Listed below are the 3 major sources of moisture problems in our homes.

Roofing or plumbing leaks and drainage issues because of poor landscaping.

Moisture build up due to cooking, bathing, washing clothes and house plants. Water vapor is also created by the burning of carbon fuels in stoves, water heaters, and fireplaces.

Humid air entering from the outside through open windows and through poorly sealed areas of the house.

Building Materials and Furnishings

Avoid products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Also to be included are lead, asbestos, fiberglass, allergens and microorganisms.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide has become a concern with todays tighter built homes. Proper venting and and combustion make-up air are important elements to insure that CO don't build up in our homes.

Air Ventilation and Filtration

Proper ventilation of air trapped in a sealed home should be part of any IAQ strategy. Bathroom and kitchen ventilation are necessary to exhaust odors, moisture and pollutants. Heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators can be an excellent option allow fresh air in while exhausting problem laden air outside.

A simple furnace or air conditioning filter can serve to increase air quality in the home and of course more elaborate options are also available.

Cleaning Products

The products that we choose to clean our homes also have a direct bearing on the quality of our life.

Green building principles are really about sensible living. By educating ourselves and putting in to practice these green building ideas we will minimize health problems and help to better manage the planet we all have to share.

Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Below are some general tips for maintaining good indoor air quality in homes. The most effective strategy for reducing indoor air pollution is to eliminate or reduce the sources of contaminants.  Effective ventilation is also important since it increases the amount of clean outdoor air, removes pollutants through filtration and helps reduce the build-up of excessive moisture. Some key tips include:

Minimize Chemical Pollutants

• Avoid smoking indoors. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of indoor pollutants at high concentrations.
• Choose low-emitting products that have been third-party certified and labeled by reputable organizations.
• Be wary of manufacturer claims of “no VOC”, “natural” or “alternative.”
• Minimize the use of harsh cleaners, solvent-based cleaners or cleaners with strong fragrances.
• Certain activities, such as paint stripping, hobby soldering or gluing, painting, sanding and rock polishing, may create high levels of pollution and should be performed outside.
• Control car and appliance exhaust. Do not idle cars, lawnmowers or other engines in the garage, especially those that are attached to the house.

Keep it Clean

• Buy machine washable bedding. Wash pillows, sheets and comforters weekly to reduce exposure to allergens, including dust mites.
• Consider removing shoes at the door to minimize dust and dirt tracked in from the outdoors.
• Place walk off mats at all entrances to your home.
• Use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners with disposable bags and microfiber cloths for surface dust removal.

Control Moisture

• Keep homes dry. Control relative humidity levels to less than 60 percent, using dehumidifiers if necessary. Clean humidifiers frequently.
• Repair all leaks promptly.
• If there has been a flood or water damage, take immediate action and remove the water and wet materials. Dry all porous materials and furnishings within 48 hours. If mold grows on any porous materials, such as drywall, ceiling tiles or wood, discard and replace.
• Run bathroom exhaust fans while showering.
• House plants can improve indoor air quality by filtering carbon dioxide; however, if they are over-watered, they can encourage mold growth.

Ensure Proper Ventilation

• Open doors and windows when temperature and humidity levels permit. However, be mindful of outdoor allergens during spring and fall seasons.
• Make sure that mechanical filters are in place, that they fit well and that they are changed periodically according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use of home mechanical air systems, with good filtration, can control dust levels. Some additional air cleaners, such as electrostatic systems or ion generators, may be stand alone or part of the home system. If these additional air cleaners are used, make sure they are certified to UL 867 and are certified by the state of California for minimal ozone release.
• Make sure that fuel burning furnaces, fireplaces, heaters, range tops, exhaust fans and other appliances are vented to the outside well away from windows and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) intakes.

Solar-Powered SPACE Shipping Container Office Produces Twice as Much Energy as it Consumes

If portability is the best quality a recycled shipping container building can have, then these super compact solar-powered SPACE containers surely fit the bill. In addition to being easy to load, Adaptive Container's SPACE buildings come with a proprietary rooftop solar panel rack system that folds up and down within 30 minutes. Best of all, the modern off-grid field offices are capable of producing twice as much energy as they consume.

SPACE stands for Solar Powered Adaptive Containers for Everyone and that’s exactly what they are. The 140 square foot off grid structure comes with 20 rooftop solar panels that provide up to 350 kWh of energy each month, more than double what it consumes. And it even has air-conditioning, leaving behind the miserable days of sweltering shipping container offices.

This upcycled design was first conceived as a sales center for Mirabeau B by Harvest Moon Development, with the help of ttweak and Metalab. The off grid version was made possible by a Houston Green Building Component grant. Now Adaptive Container has teamed up with Ameresco Solar to answer a Request for Quote by the Houston municipality to provide 17 of these portable power centers in preparation of the next Gulf storm.

Arup Unveils Stunning Solar-Powered ‘Showcase’ Arena for 2022 World Cup in Qatar

In late 2010, when Qatar submitted their successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they rolled out plans for a host of innovative solar-powered stadiums designed to both protect sportsmen and spectators from the incredible summer heat, and demonstrate some extraordinary architectural prowess. One of those structures, The Showcase, is a neat 500 person net-zero arena designed by Arup Associates and constructed in just four months. The Showcase features a retractable roof, under-seat cooling, and a wealth of photovoltaic solar panels which feed the grid when the arena is not in use.

With the enormous footprint that the world’s largest sporting event inevitably creates, host nations are often careful to address environmental concerns while showcasing groundbreaking design in their sport-centric urban developments. For the 2010 World Cup, South Africa constructed an array of eco-friendly stadiums, Brazil’s 2014 World Cup prompted a hotel to undergo a green renovation while organizers aimed for green goals in their new constructions, and Russia, host of the 2018 World Cup has set about constructing a high-speed inter-city rail system.

As Architecture World News emphasized, the oil rich nation of Qatar, easily able to afford cutting edge sustainable design for the sporting event “looks to counter prior misconceptions that arid locations are incapable of hosting major sporting events and does so with flair and panache.” Not only have they looked to develop incredible solar stadiums, but scientists in the country even developed solar-powered “clouds” to float above stadiums and block out the harsh sun rays.

With The Showcase, such a “cloud” will not be necessary. One of the most striking features of the arena is its sweeping canopy of peaked panels, which can be maneuvered to provide shelter from the heat or aggressive winds, while maintaining natural ventilation where possible.

Arup’s Sustainability Leader Michael Beaven described the threefold mission of the arena as seeking to  “blend traditional passive design ideas with innovative technology for an energy-saving and comfortable architectural result,” while adopting Fresnel parabolic mirrors for solar thermal cooling and national grid-connected photovoltaic energy creation. On match days, when large amounts of power will be required, biofuel generated energy will supplement solar energy. But for the vast majority of the year that the stadium remains dormant it will serve as a large-scale solar farm for the area.

With its incredibly small capacity of only 500 seats, the stadium might not be of tremendous use during the main events themselves – it will be used for more informal five-a-side kick-abouts. What The Showcase will provide is exactly what its name suggests — CIBSE Journal states that the stadium will serve as a facility “to monitor the performance of the technologies under desert conditions,” as Qatar’s World Cup planners gear up for the event to take place in ten years time.

5 Green Data Centers that Serve the Environment

As business as we know it becomes more and more reliant upon complex computer systems, the subsequent data centers are growing just as fast as the businesses they support. Busy sprawling server farms get really hot and heavy, heating up as the data centers' work overtime. The world needs server farms to process our increasing digital data, but these facilities consume massive amounts of energy to keep the processors from overheating, as well as release excessive heat into the environment, contributing to global warming. Some extraordinary companies are tapping into the benefits of their locations to naturally cool their systems with Arctic air or sea water, while others welcome the excess heat, and harness it to heat local homes. Read on for 5 smart companies who are using their server farms and the environment to work together.

The mountains in Stavanger, Norway are home to cool glacial-fed fjords and icy temperatures. But deep inside one peak, the Green Mountain Data Center is busy processing digital data. About 21,000 square meters underground hosts the facility's warehouses, administration, and 9 data server halls, which pump out a lot of heat. One of the greenest data centers in the world, Green Mountain is powered by renewable energy, and naturally cooled by water from the neighboring fjord. The center is kept further cool by its location deep underground, which uses its natural low temperature, and surrounding rock as moderators. Green Mountain is not only energy efficient, but produces a zero carbon footprint.

Built in 1868, the beautiful Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Beneath the cathedral, the natural bedrock gives way to a cave, which is home to Helsinki Energy and Academica's server farm. The cave is networked to a system of underground pipes, which captures the excess heat produced by the server farm, and pumps it into the city. Around 500 homes are fully heated, fed only by Uspenski's underground server farm!

Apple's North Carolina Data Center runs the processor information for the new iCloud- and also consumes massive amounts of energy, which until recently was produced by dirty coal. But late last fall they were given clearance to build a massive solar farm on the 171 acres of land near the data center. The new plan turned a once dirty operation into an eco-friendly, renewable energy center that powers some of the hottest consumer technology.

UK start-up Verne Global is the proud owner of the world's first zero-carbon data center in Keflavik, Iceland. Modular glass and steel climate-controlled boxes were built off site by Colt, a leading telecom and IT company. The entire facility is housed in a shell building that runs solely on Iceland's readily available geothermal and hydroelectric power. Combined with Iceland's cold air, it is naturally an ideal locale for data centers that can provide services for companies world wide.

Google is constantly impressing us with its usage of renewable energy and biofuels that have made it a carbon neutral company. Solar power, pig poop, and now ocean water is helping the megacompany achieve their energy efficient status. Their data center in Finland occupies an abandoned pulp mill, revamped into a busy data center. Using the cool waters from the Baltic Sea, preexisting tunnels beneath the center act as heat exchangers, cooling down the hectic servers inside. The heated water is sent to another building to mix with sea water, before sending the cooled water to sea. The seawater exchange saves the adaptive reuse facility half of the energy that would be required with conventional energy.

Green Buildings Can Play Role in Disaster Preparedness

Green buildings can play a significant role in community resiliency against future climate change and natural disasters, according to a new report from the USGBC and the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The report, “Green Building and Climate Resilience: Understanding Impacts and Preparing for Changing Conditions,” was released at a national leadership speaker series hosted by USGBC and ICLEI.

The report says that buildings should be designed for unknown future climate conditions, not just for historical climate patterns. Every building is designed for a specific range of conditions, such as peak temperature, storm surge, and average precipitation. Climate change has the potential to undermine some of these assumptions and potentially increase risks to people and property. Fortunately, there are practical steps we can take to understand and prepare for the consequences of changing environmental conditions and reduce potential impacts.

With this in mind, the researchers first collected predicted climate changes by region and, if possible, future predicted characteristics in terms of temperatures, precipitation, coastlines, air quality, pests, and fires. Then they identified opportunities for resilience through building design, construction, and operation. Eighty-one specific strategies are presented in six categories: envelope; siting and landscape; heating, cooling, and lighting; water and waste; equipment; and process and operation.

Some of the strategies proposed are ‘no regrets’ strategies in that they will help even if the climate doesn’t change. Other strategies are identified as “resilient” strategies that would allow a system or structure to absorb and adapt to events such as increased precipitation or flooding. Each strategy, whether “no regrets” or “resilient,” is presented with an objective, short description, a ranking of priority from high to low in each geographic region of the United States, primary and secondary impacts, details on how the strategy responds to climate change, the expected lifespan of the strategy, information on who controls the operation of the strategy, and associated LEED credits.

For example, the following strategies are included in the Envelope category:

No Regrets

Interior shading devices

Exterior shading devices

High-performance glazing

Beyond code insulation: wall

Beyond code insulation: roof

High-albedo roofing

Green roofs

Resilient

Enhanced roof access

Ice-dam resistant construction

Class A roofing system

Design for increased wind

Steeper low-slope roofing

Oversized roof drainage

Pitched roof

Prevent flame/ember entry

No eaves/no gutters

Pressure-neutral rain screens

Flood-resistive materials

Noncombustible siding

Tempered glazing

Plan for pest expansion

Hardened foundations

Miami-Dade County opening protection

Noncombustible decking

The report seeks to identify synergies between green building and flexibility to accommodate climate change and natural disasters. “Until now, green building practice has focused primarily on lessening the built environment’s contribution to climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” the report stated. “The next step is to understand the impact of climate change on the built environment and to incorporate appropriate adaptation strategies into green building practice so that the environments we design, build, and manage today will be suitable for a range of uncertain futures.”

6 High-Flying New Treetop Abodes by O2 Tree houses

Over the years Dustin Feider of O2 Tree house has put together an amazing portfolio of unique treetop dwellings made of everything from wood to metal, and here are six, featured with his geodesic tree houses in the past, but this new collection demonstrates the talented designer's ability to adapt his creations to all kinds of unique sites and situations. Hit the jump to see a slatted tree house, a tee-pee, and even a lotus-shaped retreat, along with a few others. Who knows - they might give you a few cool new ideas for your own backyard retreat!

Here is yet another unique tree house design you have never seen before and this one only has a footprint of 80 square feet. The platform of this tree house and bridge is supported with a tensegrity tripod made of bamboo. It has two hanging platforms connected with ropes and ladders so the kids in Venice, California can swing back and forth. A catwalk leads into a dense bamboo forest - the ultimate sanctuary

The Mulholland Slat Tree house is definitely unique. It was made from 70 vertical slats of FSC certified wood and then fashioned into 10 foot cylindrical structure that was set 20 feet high in a live Oak tree. The sweep of the tree house mimics the surrounding valley's shape and permits slivers of moonlight at night through the slats.

These two lotus tree houses were pre-fabricated on site before they were installed around a live oak tree using a circular tube that supports cables tied to the tree's branches. One of the structures is 8 foot in diameter and the other is 10 feet and they are connected by a cable car that provides quick transportation between them. They were made with sustainable-sourced materials

This tree house is more like a ship. The owner in Hollywood had very little space in the backyard for the children to play in, so they commissioned this unique tree house that comes complete with a cabin, a captain's for, a bow and a stern. It's rigged into the hillside using steel cables and anchored with concrete footings. The tree-ship is reached via two rope ladders and a sneaky trap door.

The TreePi was designed for two young chidden in Santa Monica and consistent of a 25 tall tree house covered with a recycled sailboat sail. The whole structure is anchored to the Canadian Pine with a cable support system and a trap door entry lets the kids get down to the forest floor. 

The Geo Donar was made out of leftover cherry hardwood taken from the owner's house remodel in San Diego, California and then covered in a recycled HDPE canopy. The dome is totally water-tight and zips up with marine zippers, and the exit is reached with a basket powered by an electric winch pulley system. It's has a 14 foot diameter.

Städel Museum Renovated with a Gorgeous Green Roof Dotted With Skylights

One of the most important art collections in Germany now has a newly renovated home and a fantastic, polka-dotted green roof garden! The Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main recently reopened to the public after three years of extensive renovations, the highlight of which is a domed green roof garden with circular skylights that cover the new subterranean contemporary gallery. Local firm Schneider Schumacher took the helm with the renovation and visitors are delighted with the revamped space and the energy efficient facility.

The Städel Museum reopened to the public last weekend after 3 years of renovations and expansions designed by local Frankfurt firm, Schneider Schumacher.

The renovation included an extension placed along the central axis, which works to reinstate the historic spatial arrangement.

The central foyer and all the vertical axis circulation were renovated to provide wheelchair access

A new special exhibition area was created on the ground floor, while the administration, auditorium, and library were relocated to the west wing.

The star of the renovation though is the new contemporary gallery located in the courtyard, but topped with a bulging green roof

The garden/roof is dotted with huge round skylights that flood the subterranean gallery with loads of natural daylight

During the day, the gallery space is infused with an even natural glow and at night the interior lights shine out through the portholes on the roof

In addition, the museum underwent energy efficiency upgrades and makes use of a large heat storage capacity to create an optimal room climate with minimal energy consumption