This is Hidden Creek Eco-Village.  It's a little bit different kind of suburban development that attempts to reconcile the demands of single-family home buyers with the problems of sprawling housing developments.  First, Hidden Creek is full of communal features, such as neighborhood trails, car parks, front porches, central mailboxes, and shared streetscapes.  Plus the homes are densely sited to maintain open, natural spaces.  Second, Hidden Creek is surrounded by the natural environment: there's a nature preserve on the north, a creek on the south, and natural grasses and trees everywhere else.  To maintain the integrity of the site, homes were placed around existing trees and landscaping.  Third, all the homes have been custom-designed for each site to allow views of the surrounding landscape and nature. 

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We've been watching the prefab scene as close as anyone, and it seems the recreational variety is honestly taking hold.  This company, Cottage in a Day, provides factory-built, energy-efficient, green homes.  They currently provide roughly four models, which, not counting the included decks, range in size from 182 – 375 square feet or more.  The homes are made in Traverse City, Michigan and built with locally sourced materials (except the bamboo).  And the idea is that they can be put up quite quickly, assuming the concrete pier foundation is ready to go.

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[Video - 2:19] Noted green building expert Jerry Yudelson explains how the Obama administration will impact green buildings.  In short, according to Mr. Yudelson, the Obama administration will make green buildings a permanent part of the economic, cultural, and financial landscape.  Every new, large federal building will be LEED certified, and at least 25 (if not 35) states will mandate green certification for all new buildings.  We'll see green measures for hundreds of local, state, and federal buildings, and a lot of money will be going into this area.  And because of this, people will gravitate towards the green building industry — we'll see green jobs and a boom of sorts.

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As the world descends upon Las Vegas for IBS 2009, undoubtedly, many will be walking through a stylish and posh idea house designed for the show.  The New American Home is a running tradition and every year brings another one.  I guess you could say it's a real life exhibition of the latest and greatest trends in home design.  This year, as mentioned by BusinessWeek earlier, the trends include indoor/outdoor living, basement inclusion, the home office, wireless technology, less ostentation, and having a green badge of honor.  The New American Home 2009 is claimed to be net-zero energy (based on the combined efforts of super efficiency and on-site power generation), and is definitely technologically advanced.  Let's look further …

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• [Van Jones] Greening the Ghetto. 
• Ten best green jobs for the next decade.  
• Green retrofit work thrives in uncertain economic times.
• Is construction downturn an opportunity for sustainable building?
• An ailing economy bodes well for green operations. 
• More real estate brokers are becoming LEED APs.
• Eco-resorts must improve facilities, style to attract high spenders.
• Creating sustainable, green universities.
• Steven Chu's energy plan. 

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