There’s a paver out there, the Vast Paver, that’s been showing up on HGTV, the Today Show, and Renovation Nation.  It’s probably because the composite paver is made from roughly 90-95% recycled scrap tire rubber and plastics — every 1,000 square-feet of pavers saves 500 tires and 15,000 plastic containers from landfills!  These durable pavers work in a number of situations, including for low-volume traffic, driveways, walkways, rooftops, decks, and patios.  Colors include redwood, boardwalk, village, waterwheel, polo, and olive (below).

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Simpatico Homes is a new prefab company that plans to break ground on their prototype home this summer.  Simpatico has a simple philosophy based on three core elements: form (modern), function (modular prefab), and footprint (green building).  The company was kind enough to provide these renderings of the prototype, which will be built in Emeryville, California.  The three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2500 square-foot abode was designed by Swatt Architects to received LEED Platinum.  It will include some of the following green elements:

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The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) just released a new report, the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Global Market Study, detailing a sizable advance in the small wind turbine market in the United States.  Small wind turbines, you may know, are those with a capacity of 100 kW or less.  And the U.S. market for this niche grew 78% in 2008, with a total of 17.3 (MW) of new installed capacity.  The report indicates that the growth is due, in large part, to private equity investment in the sector, as well as economies of scale, rising electricity prices, and heightened public interest. 

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