Environmental News, Eco-Friendly Gadgets - FreshAirTimes.eu

Earlier we told you about the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, and car-free city called the Masdar City. This $22 billion development in Abu Dhabi also requires some green building designs that are self dependent for energy needs. Since the city is the world’s greenest the buildings that will beautify the place should also be as green as the city itself. To keep up to this challenge a Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill was chosen.

The firm has come up with a ‘positive energy’ building which will generate more energy than what it actually requires. The 1.4 million sf headquarters of the building (pictured above) will serve as the centerpiece of Masdar City.

Not only is the building green, but its also the world’s first mixed-use, net positive energy building in the world and costs a whooping $300 million. To make up the mega-task of generating own energy, this amazing building will make use of the world’s largest building-integrated photovoltaic arrays, the largest solar thermal driven cooling and dehumidification system, and will also be the first building in history to generate power for its own assembly, through development of its solar roof pier before the underlying complex. This mega structure will also consume about 70% less water than other mixed-use buildings of its size.

Via: Jets on Green

Meld USA is a well-known designer for creating sustainable eco friendly concrete products and materials and has now launched their newest development called Ecox. Ecox is made from a precast material that is composed of 70% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled cement and materials and some recycled glass is also included in it. This material is used in manufacturing concrete products that are ordered, surfaces, furnishings, fixtures and accessories.

The products are consumed with the houseowners as well as the business related people also like to order these eco friendly products. The product is very good looking and is beneficial for the environment so is admired more. 35% of their produce goes directly to the houseowners and 65% to their commercial customers that include Anthropologie, Northwestern Mutual, Merck Pharmaceutical, Cosi and Safeguard. With these kinds of products we are surely going to benefit our planet.

Via: Got2begreen

Ok people, brace yourself for a wonderful ride in to a home that is sure to leave you spellbound and wanting for more. No, we are not going in to the home of the Adam’s Family. In fact, we are going to take a tour in to a home that is exact opposite of the dirty, messy and not to mention dangerously explosive home portrayed in the very famous cartoon series. Project 7ten has already hit the headlines many times for being one of the best eco friendly projects around and now they are going to sell their first home on eBay. The online auction starts at a price of $2.85 million and that is a lot of green to pay for a home that is truly green.

But when you look at it from the right perspective, then you would understand that each one of those green billings is worth it fully. Project 7ten is one of the very few homes in US that is certified with a Platinum rating and that means that you cannot go out and get a home that is greener than this one. This is virtually as green and eco friendly as homes can get. While the project was the brain child of Tom Schey, it also was worked upon by environmentalist Kelly Meyer, and designed by Melinda Gray. The home is located in ultra-hip area of Venice, California.

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‘Walking house’ is a modular dwelling system that enables persons to live a peaceful nomadic life, moving slowly through the landscape or cityscape with minimal impact on the environment. It collects energy from its surroundings using solar cells and small windmills. There is a system for collecting rain water and a system for solar heated hot water. A small greenhouse unit can be added to the basic living module, to provide a substantial part of the food needed by the Inhabitants. A composting toilet system allows sewage produced by the inhabitants to be disposed of. A small wood burning stove could be added to provide CO2 neutral heating. It’s amphibious and equipped to move both on land and water. It is not dependant on existing infrastructure like roads, but moves on all sorts of terrain.

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Japantown’s new Sundance Cinemas Kabuki is surely going to change the face of movie-going. Let the new Sundance Cinemas Kabuki be unveiled on Friday, December 14th, and watching movies is never going to be the same again for the movie-buffs. To mark the inauguration, there is going to be a three-day celebration.

The Cinema is believed to be capable of balancing the ‘Triangle of Art, Commerce, and Environment’. As you can see above, it’s going to be quite a sight. It promises to showcase excellent facilities and latest amenities; it guarantees unparalleled customer care and the most comfortable environment. On offer there are going to be the best films in the marketplace for a discerning audience. In fact, the Sundance would offer more than just movies. Sundance Cinemas provides special event programming, educational programs, and other local events.

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Homeowners have been advised to take steps to improve the energy-efficiency of their house.

The National Home Improvement Council stated that eco-friendly features such as loft insulation would help the environment and boost the property’s value at the same time.

Andrew Leech, technical consultant at the organisation, added that as soon as the house was put on the market, its energy-efficiency would be noticed by prospective buyers.

In addition, he said that energy-efficiency was important because it was now a necessary requirement of Home information packs (Hips).

Mr Leech commented: “[Surveyors] will be looking at whether you’ve got double glazing, whether you’ve got an efficient energy and heating system.”

Homeowners were also advised to consider lagging their hot water tank and pipes in order to minimise the likelihood of problems during cold weather.

The Hips scheme will be extended to include all types of properties in England and Wales from the end of this week.

source: realestatetv 

Renovation of existing house stock is essential for a sustainable future. The North Carlton Green House proposes a model where ecology is the foremost concern. A series of similar houses layered with green space would link horizontally and vertically creating a healthy, green urban environment rich in bio-diversity. The house is green in more than one way, there are plants integrated into the building to create a living, breathing, sustainable space that is a delight to inhabit. . A rooftop garden provides an urban oasis perched above the surrounding rooftops nestled in the tree tops. The gardens are watered by automated subsurface irrigation systems to minimize water lost through evaporation. Passive heating is provided by a two storey north facing void that allows sun to penetrate deep into the house heating thermal mass of exposed concrete floor and ceiling. Passive cooling is provided by windows located to catch breezes cooled by the courtyard plants and pond while a two storey void facilitates natural heat removal through stack effect. Same could happen to your house, but you will have to shell approx $365,000 to go green.

Via: Contemporist

Vertical farms, what is that? Well, Vertical farming or skyfarming as it is also known as, is a theoretical form of agriculture which can be done in urban high-rises. In these farmscrapers (high-rises) food such as vegetables, fruit, fish, and even live-stock can be raised by using greenhouse growing methods. Ingenious idea!

Despite concerns over exorbitant costs, Dickson Despommier, an environmental health expert in New York is convinced the world has the know-how to make the concept a reality.

In fact, Chris Jacobs, Creative Director of United Future, LA California has brought the Vertical Farm concepts into the spotlight, especially after his article about Dickson’s Vertical Farm concept was featured in the New York Magazine.

But, why do we need vertical farming? Dickson Despommier says,

the reason why we need vertical farming is that horizontal farming is failing. If current practices don’t change by mid-century, he points outs, an area bigger than Brazil would need to become farmland just to keep pace with the demand

Vertical farming has numerous advantages; some of them are as follows:

• Prevention of deforestation, sprawl, and other consequences of growing agricultural land use.

• By producing food within the city, less pollution is produced transporting the food from distant farms.

• Controlled environment of a greenhouse will also hopefully allow greater crop yields and also reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
Way to go! I hope vertical farms become a reality soon, because not only will they make the cities cleaner, but they will also help to reduce global warming.

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