Green Building : Jetson Green

PTI: Join the Jetson Green Facebook Group!

Hey there, pardon the interruption, but we've got some fun news.  As of 15 minutes ago, the Jetson Green Facebook Group just went live.  I invite you all to join, if you're interested in Facebook.  This will be a fun experiment.  It'll give us a chance to get to know readers and it'll give readers a chance to rub elbows with like-minded individuals.  I hope you'll drop by and contribute.  Everyone's invited!  You may even try a few of these things:

• Post a picture,
• Post a cool video,
• Ask a green question, or
• Share an insightful link/tip.

Wind Power Grows 45%, Green Developments Popular, + Sustainability Benefits [WIR]

• Wind Power booms with 45% growth in 2007!
• GE Financial targets $6 Billion in renewable energy investments.
• N. Cali homebuilder group mandates 50% energy reduction by 2020.
• Natural Home Top 10 green housing developments.
• Going green can attract and keep employees.
• Greening developers may not be that easy.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links.

GreenMobile® Ultra-Affordable, Modular Green Homes

We featured GreenMobile® last year when we blogged about the Lifecycle Building Challenge winners.  GreenMobile® was a winner in the Professional Unbuilt category.  Now, mounting success upon success, Michael Berk, creator of the concept, has a prototype in the works to be unveiled in March 2008.  Can't wait to see that!  GreenMobile® was awarded $5.8 M from FEMA to further develop the prototype and roughly 80 units are in the pipeline right after that prototype comes through. 

Next Generation Wal-Mart Uses 25% Less Energy!

I know, I know.  I'm treading on thin water with this one, what with all the haters and anti-sprawlsters out there.  But strictly to make the point that businesses can use less and save money, I like this story.  Next week, Wal-Mart will open the first store of the company's next generation of green stores in Romeoville, Illinois.  Where their first generation of two green stores saved about 20% energy, this store will save about 25% energy.  The energy savings result from experimentations in refrigeration and heating/cooling systems in their first generation of green stores. 

[Video] Oppenheim on COR, Sustainability

The excellent bloggers at Scribe Media just posted a video of Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim.  Oppenheim is the designer of COR Tower, an eco-tower that has wind turbines at the peak.  Please note, this post and the video have been modified slightly to protect confidential information not released publicly.  We respect that.  Enjoy!

++RSS/Syndicated Readers, Click Here to View

World's First LEED Platinum Home Remodel

Live Green, Live Smart just received Platinum certification on one of their green home projects, The Sustainable House.  The Sustainable House is a remodeled, 1948 rambler that's been converted to one of the greenest homes in the United States.  And they were kind enough to document all the details with a construction diary of the process and before/after photos, too (view below). 

The Sustainable House has a slew of green features that will one day be common in every abode: energy-efficient appliances, CFLs, natural Quartz countertops, Aquia dual-flush toilets, fly ash cement where used, four 130 feet closed-loop wells for geothermal energy, greywater system, super insulation, passive solar, photovoltaic panels, solar hot water system, Solatubes, and triple-glazed argon windows, to name a few.

Industry Outlook, a Conversation about LEED

Q: Do you think we will see more LEED and green building in the future?

Lonnie Bullard, Jacobsen Construction: I think a lot of good is coming from what's happening.  We are kind of picking the low-hanging fruit right now with this green building surge.  In other words, it makes our people feel good that they can do these kind of things and end up with a LEED certified building.

There's a lot of waste in our business, and people would like to do this, but to move to a higher level is going to be difficult.  You have a lot of owners that say, "I want a LEED certified building, but don't spend any money to get there."  To move to another level of sustainable projects and the green projects is going to take some very difficult decisions about dollars.  People are going to have to pay more to do that. 

2008 Honor Awards by AIA, Green Features Abound!

Actually, of the 800 projects the AIA received for consideration, 28 of them were selected for an Honor Award.  In the architectural category, sustainability played a large part in each of the 13 projects selected.  But the projects come in all shapes and varieties.  Check some of the cool ones below. 

American Olean, an Easy-to-Find Eco-tile

I was incredibly excited to discover that American Olean, a large well-known tile company, is offering products made of recycled materials.  As we all know, there are a lot of great eco-friendly building materials out there, but it can be a challenge to access them, especially if you don't live on the West Coast.  Well, here is a product that you can find at virtually any store that sells tile and certain styles are even available at Lowe's.  Not that I would suggest Lowe's over your neighborhood tile store, but it's there as an option, if you need it. 

Is Las Vegas Planning a $200 M Vertical Farm?

Over the last couple weeks, news started floating around about a $200 M vertical farm planned for Las Vegas.  The vertical farm would house about 100 different crops and sell them to local casinos and hotels.  It would also have estimated annual revenues of $25 M from produce and $15 M from tourists.  At a whopping 30 stories tall, this vertical farm would be one of the first in the world. 

But I'm skeptical of this news because there is no reference to an architect, developer, or owner.  There is no info as to where the vertical farm will go.  And the original source used renderings of Chris Jacobs' vertical farm, pictured above.  We've written about skyscraper and agricultural farms previously and think they will be the real deal in the future, but I'm not sure about this one.  Anyone out there have more specifics?