Green Building : Jetson Green

NewPage Corporate HQ Verifies with Green Globes

NewPage Corporation is a leading producer of coated papers, and you probably have some of their products in your mailbox or magazine rack.  Recently, NewPage moved into brand new corporate headquarters, a building that's actually the first in Ohio to achieve Green Globes verification.  Company leaders received a plaque with the a three Green Globes rating, in recognition of the building's minimization of harmful air emissions, its use of energy and water conservation strategies, the integration of recycled materials, and its project management practices. 

Why Verify with Green Globes?

Sycamore House, LEED Platinum in Pacific Palisades

Yesterday, Kovac Architects announced the groundbreaking of Sycamore House, a modern ridge top residence in the Pacific Palisades designed to achieve a Platinum level rating under the USGBC's LEED for Homes Program.  The 3,400 sf home will serve as both a laboratory of learning in sustainable design and the home of Michael Kovac, principal with Kovac Architects.  With construction already in progress (you can view a webcam on their website), the home should be complete in the latter part of 2008. 

By all means, take some time to wander through the Sycamore House online web site, it's quite informational.  This home will feature a 23-foot tall thermal wall to regulate air temperature and guide warm air to clerestory windows; a building integrated photovoltaic system and green roof to insulate the home and reduce the heat island effect; and a geothermal system for supplemental cooling.  On the inside, all the materials will be sustainably harvested, rapidly renewable, or previously recycled.  Plus, there will be the usual water-efficient fixtures, energy-saving LED lights and appliances, and low-VOC paints and varnishes.  Although still only in rendering stage, it will be exciting to see the Sycamore House become a reality.  Personally, I like the ability to congregate on the living roof and show off the solar panels.  That's a nice touch. 

Push Button Industrial Container House

Those of you that follow the container architecture scene know the name of Adam Kalkin.  Here, he's the designer of the Push Button House, which was exported by a company called Illy for display in Europe.  At the push of a button, the container opens like a flower, transforming a simple, rectangular box into a fully furnished, functional space.  Using hydraulic cylinders controlled by a computer inside the kitchen, the house container literally expands into a six-room apartment with a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, living room and library in a mere 60 seconds.  The entire house was created from recycled materials, showcasing the best of Kalkin's industrial creativity.  More images below. 

Beach Road Ecoquarter, a Sustainable Mixed-Use Scheme

Foster + Partners is at it again with another sweeping master plan in some exotic location -- this time, it's a 150,000 square meter city block in downtown Singapore.  The scheme incorporates commercial, residential, retail, and two high-end hotels, the total package of which could achieve the Green Mark Platinum Rating, which is the highest rating under Singapore's main green building rating system.  The ground-level canopy is blanketed with a ribbon-like structure that forms a series of vertical louvres.  These filter the sun and provide a framework for the planting which will transform the towers into a series of vertically linked green spaces.  Interestingly, the buildings' slanted facades are oriented, rather exactly calculated, to catch wind and direct it downwards to cool the canopy level.  It's amazing to look at, and I bet it will be quite the gathering place. 

Varia by 3form, a Diverse and Unique Product

Varia is produced by 3form, a great company to look into for many of your green interior design needs.  They produce a wide range of materials and for each of those materials, such as Varia, the application potential is practically endless.  If you can dream it, you can probably make it happen with one of their products.  Varia, or Ecoresin as it's also called, is made of 40% post-industrial re-grind content and is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified, making it a good option for LEED credits.  This is the most diverse product in terms of color, pattern, texture, and application options that I have found on the green market. 

There are, by the way, over 210 color, pattern, and texture options.  On top of that, there are additional finish options such as patent or patina.   Patterns include jacquard prints and hand-dyed capiz shells and glass suspended between layers of Ecoresin.  My favorite is the Organics collection with options that include bamboo patterns, leaves, grass and even rocks, some of which actually contain those materials with the layers.  Varia also comes in a variety of thicknesses which allows it to be even more versatile.  Possible uses for this material include backsplashes, countertops, wall coverings, flooring, cabinet doors, ceiling panels, door panels, and canopies.

MOMO by Thomas Lind, Living Modular Getaway

This is MOMO, a prefab concept designed by Thomas Lind.  The word MOMO comes from the truncation of Modernistiskt Modulhuskoncept, which is Swedish for modern modular house concept.  MOMO homes are put together using 107 sf modules that aren't particularly made with any special green elements other than to be built with high quality, healthy materials.  That said, the concept also calls for a living roof with a blend of native water-storing succulents and grasses.  The large, wind-sail looking outdoor roof blurs the boundary between interior and exterior with shade and a congregational patio -- and if you're in the right climate, it'd be quite nice to chill in and out of the home.  Modules price in at roughly $25,000 each, and the first MOMO summer houses will be built in Sweden in mid-2008.  So, the final product won't necessarily be huge, but it's certain to be sufficient. 

300 North LaSalle, Exposing LEED Benefits (S2)

I received an email from a reader recently about the progress of 300 North LaSalle, which is a 60-story office tower under construction at the northwest corner of North LaSalle Street and the Chicago River in Chicago.  It received LEED-CS Gold pre-certification and should be ready for occupation near January 2009.  Back in 2005, developer Hines signed Kirkland & Ellis to occupy a mind-numbing 24 floors.  (too many lawyers in Chicago?)  The rest of the building, comprising about 400,000 sf will be available for lease.  And unlike many of the wicked shapes we see in some green buildings, the pragmatic, modern 25,000 rsf floor plates are good for tenants that like to use what they're paying for.  The building was designed by Pickard Chilton, an architectural firm that is becoming increasingly known for their green office and professional buildings.  I've included some interesting background and images/renderings below. 

Technische Universität Darmstadt Takes First Place at Solar Decathlon 2007

It's pretty unbelievable to see all these cool houses at Solar Decathlon.  I mean, why can't all houses look like this?  Late yesterday, it was announced that the Technische Universität Darmstadt team from Germany took first prize.  Congratulations!  Word on the street is that this house was consistently swarmed with visitors the entire week.  Rightfully so, too. 

Trump's Stalled Golf, $1 Trillion Clean Energy Market, Small Wind Obstacles, Stylish Prefab, + Green City Branding (WIR)

• Donald Trump's "Greatest Golf Course" hits bird bunker - seven bird species, and plenty of Scots, hold up $2 Billion development. 
• Morgan Stanley estimates that clean energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels could grow to as much as $1 Trillion a year by 2030. 
• Wind turbine on your roof?  Not so fast.  Obstacles include cost, output, noise, and even damage to your home (but even obstacles are surmountable). 
• It's a Fab, Fab World - Modular homes are stylish and affordable. 
• Eco-friendly City Branding - Sacramento looking to become green.
  

McDonald's Responds to Fast Company's LEED Criticism

You've probably heard that Fast Company wrote a recent article about some of the potential problems with the LEED system.  Well, Bob Langert, Vice President of CSR at McDonald's, just wrote a small response to Fast Company Magazine in an article titled "LEED = Progress for the Environment."  Starting with the quote, "Perfection is the enemy of good," Langert continued:

From my own personal experience, I know that our team of engineers and building development professionals within McDonald's has studied LEED and all that the USGBC has achieved over the past decade. We joined the USGBC this year, and to us, LEED is an outstanding development that has helped advance sound, practical and motivational ways to make building construction more sustainable.