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

8 Benefits of Green Buildings: Investing in green buildings reaps big rewards now and for years to come

Green buildings are more than a fashion statement. Many architects, builders and clients agree that smart, sustainable buildings are becoming a necessity. Why? Because according to some estimates, buildings account for almost one-half of the world's material and energy consumption, one-sixth of fresh water use, and a quarter of all wood harvested. As costs for sustainable materials and products drop, building green is really the most cost-effective kind of design and construction. More and more, you can't afford not to build green. 

1. Lower Green Building Costs

Even if you read no further, this should convince you: Green buildings save money, starting the very first day of construction. This is true for green homes as well as sustainable office buildings, factories, churches, schools and other structures.

A 2003 study by the California Sustainable Building Task Force shows that an initial green design investment of just two percent will produce savings greater than 10 times the initial investment, based on a very conservative 20-year building lifespan. For example, $40,000 in green design in a $2 million dollar project will be repaid in just two years. Over 20 years, the savings will amount to $400,000. In other words, ka-CHING!

2. Improved Productivity

A number of studies -- and common sense -- indicate that building occupants who are healthy and comfortable are more productive. A study of 31 green buildings from the City of Seattle found that absenteeism was reduced by 40 percent. Another study, sponsored in part by commercial real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield, reported 30 percent fewer sick days among one company's employees, and discovered a 10 percent increase in net revenue per employee in another company, after each office moved to LEED-certified buildings. Companies in green offices also have an edge in attracting and retaining great employees.

3. Green Buildings Have Higher Market Value

Both residential and commercial buildings retain a high resale value if they include sustainable design components. The value to prospective buyers comes from knowing their utility and maintenance costs will be lower in green buildings that outperform non-green buildings. Occupancy levels are consistently higher, and vacancy rates lower, in sustainable office buildings.

4. Healthy Occupants in Green Buildings

Sick building syndrome is a problem that has plagued homes and offices for decades, and costs U.S. businesses millions of dollars each month. Green buildings, however, avoid many of these problems with healthy ventilation systems and use of non-toxic building materials. 

The EPA estimates that indoor air pollution may be 2 to 5 times worse, and sometimes more than 100 times worse, than outdoor air quality. Of 146,400 lung cancer deaths in 1995, 21,100 were related to the radon gas that's found in many buildings. About 20 million people (and over 6 million children) suffer from asthma, which can be triggered by the poor indoor air quality that's often found in non-green buildings.

5. Tax Benefits for Green Buildings

Recent federal tax incentives have been enacted to encourage the design and construction of energy-efficient green buildings, both residential and commercial. Many state and local governments have also passed tax provisions to encourage energy-efficient buildings. Ask your accountant or tax expert about the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, PL 110-185 (ESA), the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008, PL 110-289 (HATA), the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, PL 110-343 (EESA), and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, PL 111-5 (ARRA) to see if these apply to your home or commercial real estate.

6. Improved Retail Sales

A California survey of over 100 stores (all operated by the same retailer) found that sales were 40 percent higher when stores were lighted with skylights instead of electric lighting. Retailers who can use daylight in their interiors can also lower their electric costs. All these factors are further proof that green buildings might actually make money.

7. Lower Utility Demands in Green Buildings

One indirect benefit to green buildings is often overlooked: reduced demand on electric, gas and water utilities means that these infrastructures can do more with less. This can result in lower municipal utility costs over the long run as utilities need not expand and can avoid passing those expansion costs onto utility customers.

8. Improved Quality of Life

It's hard to put a dollar-amount value on quality of life. How much, for example, would you pay to enjoy a less-stressful day, or to avoid catching the flu? When all of the aforementioned benefits to green architecture and sustainable design are added up, the enhanced lifestyles shared by all of society makes sense, both economically and environmentally. Again, as we move into an era of smarter technology and more expensive natural resources, we can't afford not to build green.

Trash to Treasure: 6 Awesome Buildings Made of Recycled Materials (part 2)

1000 Recycled Doors Transform the Facade of a 10-Story Building in Seoul

South Korean Artist Choi Jeong-Hwa used 1000 brightly colored recycled doors to transform a bland 10-story building into an eye-popping visual indulgence. Jeong-Hwa is a master of using found objects to make provocative spaces, and the project is one of his most ambitious attempts to place normal things in an extraordinary way. The doors stretch up the scaffolding of the mid-rise, giving the hulking mass a pixelated charm.

Burton Street Peace Garden’s Learning Pavilion Was Built From Recycled Materials for $3,900

This interactive learning pavilion made from discarded objects found on-site was built during a 10 week design-build course this last summer in Asheville, North Carolina. Students from three regional universities (North Carolina State, Appalachian State and Virginia Tech) worked in conjunction with the Asheville Design Center to build the pavilion for the Peace Gardens. The pavilion utilizes solar passive design and rainwater harvesting, and it is currently used by the community for education programs and workshops. Giant Texaco signs, ironing boards, windows, screens and other found objects decorate the artistic and functional shed, which cost less than $4,000 to build.

Maisongomme: A Funky Garden Office and Shed Made from Recycled Car Tires

Maisongomme is a sustainable garden shed made from locally found scrap materials and completely covered with discarded rubber tires. The structure was created for Peter Merry and Marcella Siebert by Refund as a functional space with room for an office and storage. Already getting a lot of use from the couple, this peculiar and quirky eco-dwelling is also full of playful details!

Trash to Treasure: 6 Awesome Buildings Made of Recycled Materials (part 1)

Artist Victor Moore Builds an Incredible Junk Castle for Just $500

This incredible “junk castle” designed by Victor Moore is made entirely out of scrap materials, and here’s the best part. The whole thing only cost $500. Now we realize that not everyone is interested to live in a house that was put together with materials salvaged from the nearby junk yard, but this is a clear indicator of what can be done with a bit of ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking. Moore’s MFA assemblage thesis was constructed in 1970!

Starbucks Opens New Reclamation Drive Thru Made From Recycled Shipping Containers

When a major corporation like Starbucks creates a new branch out of 4 recycled shipping containers, it starts to seem like the rest of the world might finally catch on to the numerous benefits of recycling existing materials. This awesome reclamation drive-thru in Tukwila, Washington may be part of the company’s new branding strategy, which includes an emphasis on reducing energy and material use. And just when this new Starbucks seemed like it couldn’t be any cooler, we found out that it was designed to meet LEED certification.

Blocket Mini: 36 Reclaimed Windows Transformed Into a Rustic Guest House in Sweden

This charming building in Sweden is made from cinder blocks and 36 reclaimed window frames, and we think it’s absolutely lovely. The waterfront cottage designed by Karin Matz is minimally-furnished and flooded with daylight, and makes a wonderful guest house for anyone interested in a rustic getaway!

Artist Damien Hirst Unveils Plans to Build 500 Eco-Homes in UK

Damien Hirst is perhaps best known as an extraordinarily provocative, sometimes playful artist who makes an incredible amount of money from his conceptual art — in a surprising shift, he now aims to channel some of that wealth into a new role as a pioneer in eco-housing development. Hirst, who is purported to have a horror of “anonymous, lifeless buildings,” has unveiled plans to construct over 500 eco-homes in an effort to revitalize his adopted hometown of Ifracombe in Devon, UK. The proposed homes include renewable energy solutions such as concealed wind turbines in their roofs and photovoltaic solar panels.

Hirst owns 40% of the land included in the proposal, which would develop three farms including Winsham farm, which Hirst purchased 10 years ago. Hirst’s representative for the project, architect Mike Rundell of MRJ Rundell Associates stressed that Hirst hopes for the homes to be modern in design and technology, while incorporating decorative features appropriate to the historic area, including pitched roofs and bay windows. He added that each home should be “practical, make the most of natural light, and be big enough to live in.”

Ilfracombe, a former seaside resort and mining town of 11,000 is in the midst of plans to attract new growth and investment. While Hirst aims to create a pioneering blueprint for eco-home development in the UK, Rundell cautioned against any expectations of an altruistic non-profit affordable housing project in the style of Brad Pitt. Rundell stated “if the [local city] council insists on a very high level of affordable housing… the overall quality of the homes will drop,” adding “it’s our ambition to make them affordable, but houses like these are much more expensive than ordinary houses.”