Green Building : Jetson Green

[Video] Green "Rotating Tower" Planned for NYC?

I've not blogged about this interesting and innovative Rotating Tower, which was designed by David Fisher of Dynamic Architecture, because critics have downplayed the concept saying it's not capable of being built.  But now comes news that the Rotating Tower is not only on the cusp of construction in Dubai, but it's in advanced design phase for Moscow and intended for New York.  Let me say that again: Fisher intends to design a Dynamic Tower for the Big Apple!  If you haven't heard about it yet, make sure to watch the above video.  Here's the general idea:

Top 10 Green Building Products [Sustainable Industries]

Just recently, Sustainable Industries announced their list of the Top 10 Green Building Products for 2008.  To get that magic number of 10 products, SI accepted roughly 80 nominations and narrowed those products down based on their ability to meet the following criteria: LEED compatibility, environmental performance, value, scalability / market impact, innovativeness, and design aesthetic.  Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Green Building Products for 2008:

Non-Green Buildings Soon to Cost Owners $$!

"At this point it is my experience green buildings are receiving the same financing they would get for any high quality building with a good tenant ... what I think will change is that lenders will start assessing a premium on financing for any building that is not designed to green standards."

Comparing green buildings to the advent of air conditioning, the quote continues:  "At first buildings that came equipped with air conditioning were seen as luxury developments.  But within a short period of time any building that didn't have it was considered functionally obsolete."

             -- Jim Amorin, president-elect of the Appraisal Institute [via]

Surfing Coyboys Brings Vintage Hip to Venice Beach

Surfing Cowboys, located in Venice Beach, California is a hip spot for vintage shopping.  The store offers furniture, accessories, lighting, artwork, and a unique collection of vintage surfing and skateboarding items.  And if you can't make it to Venice Beach, you can shop their store online. 

Welcome Park City TV Viewers!

I want to take this quick opportunity to welcome any viewers dropping by from the Mountain Morning Show on Park City TV.  I was on the show for a quick little bit talking about green building and what's going on right now.  For a guy that's trying to work off four hectic years of grad school weight, the camera angle isn't that great, but we're making progress on that front.  I want to thank the wonderful hosts and crew for having Jetson Green on their award-winning morning show!

[+] Mountain Morning Show - 6/23/08 - 1:50 - 1:57

Foster + Partners' Newest Energy-Efficient Structure for Amsterdam [S2]

Construction just finished on this 24-story building designed by Foster + Partners for Vivaldi Park area in Amsterdam.  It's quite the efficient structure -- exceeding Dutch environmental regulations by 10%, and features flexible floor plates that are perfect for big name tenants such as Ernst & Young.  The design calls for an ecological pond, fully glazed windows on sun-exposed facades, and the retention of 65% of rainwater.  In addition to its energy efficient elements, probably one of the more interesting aspects of the structure, and one that has grown on me, is Foster + Partners' signature use of the aluminum-clad, steel diagrid structure.  Any thoughts relating to the diagrid pattern on the building exterior?

Tomorrow's Mega City, Conflicted Consumers, Top 100 Green Design Firms, & Smaller Green Homes [WIR]

• The future of the environment.
• The rise of the "conflicted consumer."
• The Top 100 Green Design Firms.
• As the housing market weakens, homes get smaller.
• Green buildings is hard to define. 
• The green home market is growing. 
• New study says solar could provide 10% of electricity by 2025.

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

Flickr LVL Home With Subtle Flashes of Red

As always, I'm amazed by what can be found on Flickr.  Just within the last couple weeks, someone posted photos of their friend's LVL home by Rocio Romero.  It's quite nice both inside and out.  But we've talked about Rocio Romero prefabs before, including this Napa LV Home and this Arkansas LVL Home, and what's interesting is: how they're customized.  Every Rocio Romero home starts with a primary focus on quality, sustainability, and design -- from there, owners tend to add their own personality to the inside and out. 

Recycled Pallet Structure Gets A Human Touch

About ten years ago, I worked at UPS in their "boneyard" -- a place where all the pallets were unloaded and strewn in huge heaps on an asphalt parking lot.  We'd neatly stack the pallets, place them in a trailer, and UPS would get rid of them, netting about $0.25 per pallet saved.  At the time, I didn't realize the amount of pallets in circulation around the globe.  It's estimated that there are about 2 BILLION ordinary unit load pallets in circulation globally, and about two-thirds of these are only used once.  It's further estimated that U.S. companies throw away roughly 4 billion board feet of wood pallets every year.  Pretty crazy, I know. 

So HDR Architecture came up with Unit Load_Redux, a temporary exhibition intended as a probe for sustainable living through the redux of pallets and the use of bicycle energy.

Nation's Largest Single-Building Solar Energy Project Planned for Atlantic City

Atlantic City Convention Center has just signed a 20-year agreement with Pepco Energy Services to have a 2.36 megawatt solar roof installed on the building.  When completed by the end of this year, the project is projected to be the largest single-building solar energy project in the United States.  That's 13,321 photovoltaic panels covering roughly two-thirds of the building AND a savings of roughly $4.4 million in electricity costs over the 20-year deal.