Green Building : Jetson Green

Construction 2.0: Jeriko House + Luxury, Green Living

Jeriko is Different... Design... Strength... Green... Flexibility... Living.  Jeriko House: It Lives in you.  Today, New Orleans-based CEO of Jeriko House, Shawn Burst, announced his company's plans to enter the modular/prefab home building market with 5 different models (each with an infinite number of configurations).  Burst teamed up with a German engineer to use a patented, interlocking aluminum framing system--one that is strong enough to meet the strictest U.S. earthquake and hurricane building codes.  The plumbing, appliances, lighting, hardware, interior finishes, and exterior cladding are all integrated into an advanced structural system through the collaborative efforts of a team and network of design/construction professionals.  Starting at $175 per square foot, a Jeriko House will have such luxuries as Asian teak wood finishes, coconut skin walls, Indian rosewood door handles and stone, and marble + ceramics from around the globe.  Homes will also include "biometric systems and homeowner-friendly technology."  Bourne-style, I presume. 

The first home will be completed in New Orleans and the company anticipates orders of 100 more relatively soon.  Actually, they're taking orders right now for May delivery.  Their website says a purchaser is responsible for permits, site work, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC rough in, and landscaping.  Shipping is included in the cost of the home, and Jeriko will help you build it. 

Green Commitment:
Straight from the website: "We feel it is our duty at Jeriko House to take a leading role in the efforts to save our planet. Sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness are at the core of our beliefs. With a R&D team searching the globe for the latest and greatest green innovations and technology Jeriko will fulfill its roll as a socially responsible company at the forefront of the Green Revolution."  I like what Jeriko's saying, but we can't forget that acting locally, rather than globally, has its green benefits as well.  Also, take a look at today's press release.  For every 10 houses sold, those 10 owners form a committee that votes to give a Jeriko House to a family in need somewhere in the U.S.  I think Jeriko is taking an innovative perspective to all facets of the business and can't wait to see the first home!  Maybe I'll just drive down and see it when they're done. 

Owens Corning Headquarters Receives Silver LEED-EB Certification

The Energy Star-rated Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) world headquarters building in Toledo, Ohio, has added another badge of honor with Silver LEED-EB certification.  Designed by Cesar Pelli (listed by the AIA as one of the 10 Most Influential American Architects) and built in 1996, Pelli spoke approvingly of the certification, "I am pleased this facility provided the solid foundation needed to earn the recognition that the LEED Existing Building certification provides."  For a couple other examples of LEED-EB buildings, feel free to click over to read about Adobe + Union Bank of California Center.  Owens Corning also runs The Pink Panther Energy Blog, which informs customers on insulation + energy conservation best practices. 

Green Features:
Here are just a few of the green features mentioned in the certification: under-floor ventilation for energy-efficient air delivery and specific control of thermal comfort; low maintenance, indigenous landscaping; easterly facing building allowing for natural lighting control via adjustable shading; and reusable, removable, non-adhesive carpet squares throughout almost the entire building.  See also CO + PRNewswire. 

Carnival of the Green #62

As you all know, Carnival of the Green is basically a carnival of blog posts that gets passed around from one green site to another.  Posting happens on Mondays.  Treehugger graciously supports the endeavor, so pop on over there if you're interested in hosting a carnival or submitting an article (carnivalofgreen [at] gmail dot com).  Last week, Carnival #61 was at Clay & Wattles, and next week, Carnival #63 will be at Nonoscience.

That said, I received a ton of articles and commentary, a virtual smattering of diverse topics, so go ahead and check 'em out.  Here we go in no particular order:

• Greening the Green Festival (Video = 5:53 min.) - by Melissa Mansfield + Averan Gale at LAGreenLiving. 
• What's Next for Nature?  Innovation and a Few Ads - by Victoria E at Victoria E. 
• Eco-Fashion Q&A: Denim Repair and Cheap Style - by Victoria E at GroovyGreen. 
• Geologists Find Strong Evidence of Climate Change - by Barbara Feiner at OrganicAuthority.com. 
• Ecological Decline "A Greater Threat than International Terrorism": The Challenge for Business - by Leon Gettler at Sox First. 
• Living with Ed Makes Fun of Environmentalists and Should be Cancelled - by David at The Good Human. 
• Beyond the Green Corporation - by Rich at Queercents. 
• Beware of Greenwashing at the Grocery - by Micaela at Mindful Momma. 
• It's Time Again for Nuclear (with 150 coal plants on the drawing board)! - by Jake Kearns at Real Green Tips. 
• Birth of an Advocate: From Sports Cars to Hybrids - by Beo at GroovyGreen. 
• Barenaked Ladies Look After Their Mother + 'Firefighter' Blows Smokescreen at Fire Retardant Legislation - by Matthew Fried at Enviroblog. 
• Weiners & Burgers Heating the Planet More than Cars - by Sally Kneidel at Veggie Revolution. 
• Harvesting Justice (marginalization & health risks of farm workers) - by Harlan Weikle (Editor of Greener Magazine) at Veggie Revolution. 
• Fresh Water Tanganyika - by Greener News Room at Greener Magazine. 
• Envirolet Composting Toilet in Stage Production of "The War Next Door" - by Scott Smith at Envirolet Buzz. 
• State of the (Green) Union - by Don Bosch at The Evangelical Ecologist. 
• Tear Up CRP Ground and Contracts for Ethanol? + Now It's the Ethanol Surge - by Ken Cook at Mulchblog. 
• Illegal Coffee Growing Threatens Wildlife, Kraft Major Buyer + Follow Up: Nestle & Starbucks Respond to Illegal Coffee Report by The Bird Barista at Coffee and Conservation. 
• Keeping Wildlife Coverage Wild, Engaging - by Jeremy Bruno at The Voltage Gate. 
• Professor Quippy: Climate Change Scientists Get Angry - by Mark A. Rayner at The Skwib.
• High Anxiety: Thoughts on the Sustainability of High-Rise Developments - by Roger Butterfield at Words and Pictures. 
• Green is Making Me See Red (L-O-N-G) - by Wenchypoo at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. 
• Top Socially Responsible Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Firms - by H.S. Ayoub at BioHealth Investor. 
• Jim Webb: Is a Star Born? - by Rey Thomas at The Thomas Political Report. 
• Patching Holey Clothes - by Kevin Surbaugh at Becoming & Staying Debt Free. 

That's about 28 articles, so this should be enough to keep you busy for the next week.  Thanks for letting me participate Treehugger!!

Skyscraper Sunday: LEED Silver One Victory Park

Taking a page from local developer Harwood, it looks like Hillwood decided to throw its hat into the green development ring with One Victory Park.  1VP is a 20-story, 450,000 square-foot, LEED-Silver office building slated for completion in 2008.  I've read a few conflicting reports on the actual details of the building, so we'll have to watch and really determine the true specs.  Hines + Hillwood will be co-developing the project, which includes a Two Victory Park that seems identical to 1VP.  Boka Powell is the lead architect with Austin Commercial as the general contractor.   

1VP already has a tenant for six floors of the building.  Haynes and Boone recently announced that it would relocate from the Bank of America tower (tenant of 22 years), retaining Gensler as the interior design architect.  A recent news article pointed to suggestions that all the offices would be the same size, meaning senior and junior attorneys would be indistinguishable according to office size.  Why?  Efficiency and money savings.  Use your imagination on this one.  Image via. 

Noteworthy Green News: Week in Review

1. Massachusetts Power Plants to Pay Emissions Penalties: State Rejoins a Northeast Greenhouse Gas Initiative - Massachusetts power plant owners will have to pay a penalty for every pound of emissions that contribute to global warming under an agreement signed by Governor Deval Patrick yesterday that is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for an ambitious energy conservation and renewable energy program.
2. Green Schools the Hottest Market for Green Building According to McGraw-Hill Construction's Latest Report - MHC found that the education sector is the fastest-growing market for green building, good news for the industry, given that education construction (at the K-12 and university levels) is the largest construction sector, by value, at $53 billion for 2007.
3. Wind Farm Building Boom to Continue in 2007: Wind Power Capacity in the U.S. Grew 27% Last Year - The U.S. now has enough installed wind power capacity (11,603 megawatts) to power between 3 million and 3.5 million homes, which reduces annual greenhouse gas emissions by 23 million tons of carbon dioxide. The number of homes relying on electricity produced by wind energy will rise to nearly 4.5 million by year's end if the AWEA's forecast is accurate.
4. The U.S. Climate Action Partnership: Big Businesses and Eco-Advantage - The companies in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership are Alcoa, BP America, DuPont, Caterpillar, General Electric, Duke Energy, Lehman Brothers, PG&E, PNM Resources and FPL.  These big businesses have a goal help the U.S. create public policy that would act aggressively and sustainably to slow, stop, and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  See also NRDC. 

Clarification Please! Is Green Building More Expensive or Not?

Recently, I attended a guest lecture by a seasoned real estate developer, and he was talking about the profitability of his projects.  This speaker has major experience will all types of investments including retail, single family, industrial, condo, etc.  I put him on the spot and asked him about the numbers he's seen on sustainable developments.  His answer:  "They're expensive, a break-even proposition at best.  Development is going that direction, but not now.  They're not cheap, at all.  We're talking 20, 30, 40% more expensive.  I won't do them."  I was blown away. 

In stark contrast, on Monday, January 22, Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, said to the Miami Herald, "We are now at the point where you can build to LEED standards and it is not one penny more than conventional buildings.  We are more experienced now.  We have a proliferation of green building products and services."  From this perspective, it's profitable and financially responsible to be environmental and build green. 

Someone's wrong, who is it?

When I hear Fedrizzi's statement, I'm led to believe that he's accounting for construction on a first costs basis (not including the operational savings).  And I think he is.  He's saying it costs the same to build green as non-green, on a first costs basis.  I mentioned the obstacles to building green recently, so is this a case where the developer was unaware?  What's the deal?  I'm interested in hearing some real world discussion here. 

Quotable: William McDonough, FAIA

"If people have done any math, they will understand how valuable the green agenda is economically, and that if they don't adopt it, they are probably not intelligent fiduciaries as developers or owners."  - William McDonough, FAIA, Co-Author Cradle to Cradle, Time "Hero for the Planet," + Founding Principal of William McDonough + Partners

Steven Spielberg Movie on William McDonough, FAIA, the "Eco-tect?"

I hope so.  When I wrote about Green Sandwich Technologies, true south orientation, and Greenbridge Developments, I was talking about Bill McDonough.  I've also mentioned his Cradle to Cradle notion, which is about much more than sustainability, it's about "waste = food" and what happens to stuff when no one wants to use it anymore (C2C Book).  His ideas are transforming the way companies do business and make money.  And that's why he's a big deal.  He's the "Eco-tect," or the Ecological Architect, but he's also more than that:  he's innovating architecture, design, and business all at the same time.  This is the story that Steven Spielberg wants to make a movie about, and I think it will be extremely compelling. 

Right now, McDonough's company is working with Google on its campus.  He's also helping to design six cities and one village in China with stringent standards of sustainability.  If you've ever been to China, you know how big these cities can get, so we're talking about sustainability and innovation on a gigantic scale.  The American public could benefit from McDonough's reservoir of knowledge and experience, so I'm hoping that Spielberg continues with his first impulse and follows through with the film.  Via Business 2.0.   

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller Needs a Good Book to Fight Coal Plants

There was a short mention in Dallas Morning News' Quick (pg. 19 - January 22, 2007 - pdf) about what Mayor Laura Miller is reading.  Admirably, she's working down a New York Times list of the greatest American novels published during the last 25 years.  But she's also reading The Discovery of Global Warming by Spencer R. Weart, to "expand my knowledge base as I challenge the construction of new coal-fired power plants in Texas."  Interesting.  I think I would have chosen Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce.  But that's me. 

So here's my question: keeping in mind the goal to become educated on the environmental impact of coal plants, what book would you recommend that Mayor Laura Miller read?  Or did she pick the right one?  Comments are open. 

Skyscraper Sunday: Arterra - The LEED-Certified San Francisco Treat

Arterra is an urban living, high-rise community in Mission Bay that will have a mixture of flats and townhomes of various sizes.  Arterra has three buildings: "Sky," a 16-level tower, "City," a 9-level building, and "Park," a 6-level building with 2-story homes.  Go to the Arterra website and you can watch a video that shows you the views from each building.  Because Arterra is a high-end lifestyle community, you will have benefits such as 24-hour concierge, state-of-the-art fitness center, community lounge, rooftop sun deck with lounge and barbecue, etc.  But, another feature of Arterra is that it will be the first LEED-Certified Green high-rise community in San Francisco. 

Green Features:
Arterra is going after LEED certification, so here are some of the current green amenities being planned:  formaldehyde-free cabinets (Studio Becker); low-emitting paint and carpets; high-efficiency water heating boiler; Kohler dual-flush toilets and other water-saving features; low-E, energy-efficient, insulated windows; Energy Star home appliances and gas ranges; bamboo for all standard kitchen floors; cork flooring at all elevator levels; recycled glass floors and FSC-Certified wood walls in entry-level lobby; bicycle storage in the parking garage; and recycled content panels for the exterior facade.  Arterra is being developed by Intracorp Companies.