• Sharing Passivhaus success stories.
• Redefining prefab: it’s all about the bones.
• What can President Obama do about climate change?
• iShack: a South African prototype shelter with solar power.
• Cooling challenge spurs 40% more efficient air conditioner.
• Clothes dryers may use 35% more energy than advertised.
• ReCode because your green dream house may be illegal.
• Three easy tips to reduce standby power loads.
• Getting green without going broke.

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There’s a container house in Nederland, Colorado, and soon there will be one in Boulder, too. It’s believed to be the first such project in Boulder, and showcases a design by M. Gerwing Architects for couple Mark Gelband and Courtney Loveman, according to a recent article on the Boulder Daily Camera. The design of the eco-friendly home was driven by the solar shade ordinance, a neighbor that wouldn’t help with the variance, and a challenging narrow building site (more detail here).

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House-Lamp is a new Kickstarter project by San Francisco-based architect Lauren Daley.  The project features three styles — modern, bungalow, and eco — of architecturally inspired luminaries made of CNC and laser-cut basswood with a solid wood or plywood base.  Daley is offering these LED-powered illuminated houses without the task lamp for $250 and with the task lamp for $275. Pictured is Eco with laser-etched rooftop solar PV.

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New York City-based Souda, a design and manufacturing company co-founded by Isaac Friedman-Heiman and Shaun Kasperbauer, recently shared a new project called Bubble Chandelier with Jetson Green.  Kasperbauer said the light fixture is made with 60 two-liter, used soda bottles collected by homeless individuals and can collectors in the area.  The company collaborates with and returns a portion of sale proceeds to local Sure We Can to make each chandelier.  Souda has a two-week lead time for the 22-inch item, which runs on a CFL or LED bulb, preferably.  It’s available in clear or green from $780.00.

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Little House on the Trailer is a Petaluma-based company that provides affordable, energy-efficient, and “substantially constructed” houses for today’s mobile home buyers.  For example, the company currently has a “Barn Siding Studio” available for immediate delivery for $24,000.  The 200 square-foot studio was built on wheels and finished with reclaimed redwood planks.  Marin County treats the structure as a shed, according to Little House on the Trailer, but it can be used as an office, backyard retreat, etc.

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