Green Building Blog - Jetson Green

Off-Grid Eco-Home Focuses on Lifecycle

I keep an eye on things in the UK because, for some reason, I have this feeling that they're focusing more on sustainability than we are.  I mean, they're not necessarily talking about green this or green that, they're talking about lifecycle of materials and carbon emissions.  This super luxury eco-home, for instance, was designed with lifecycle in mind.  Designed by ZedFactory, the, ahem, 7535 sf home has received Bath (UK) planning permission and should be complete within about a year.  It will feature efficient insulation, solar orientation, thermal mass, and earth sheltering to minimize energy consumption.

ECOBAY Focuses on Sustainability

One thing we're seeing for sure is an increasing amount of activity in the masterplanned, sustainable city area.  Last January, schmidt hammer lassen architects won an international competition to design ECOBAY, a new town situated on the Paljassaare peninsula near the Estonian capital of Tallinn.  In collaboration with Buro Happold Consulting Engineers and Møller & Grønborg, ECOBAY has been designed with everything one would need in close proximity: housing, schools, local shops, businesses, and other amenities -- all within walking or biking distance.  In addition, the town will utilize geothermal, small-scale wind, and surplus energy from the nearby wastewater facility. 

Dubai's Xeritown Has Eco-City Aspirations, Too

The task of building an entire city from scratch isn't novel in Dubai -- it seems there's a new city announcement every half year or so.  Xeritown is one of the latest that I've learned about and it's planned for Dubailand.  The idea behind the 60-acre city is that it will be designed to accommodate the elements of the desert rather than overcome them.  The form of the city follows a north-south axis to take advantage of the cool breeze coming in from the sea.  The buildings, rather than artificial and water intense landscaping, provide shading and structure. 

Japanese Zero Emissions Home Unveiled for G8 Summit

In conjunction with The Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit in Japan occurring right now from July 7-9, 2008, Japan and Sekisui House have released details of The Zero Emissions House, a high-tech, prefabricated home designed in the vernacular of traditional Japan.  As the G8 Summit focuses on various issues pressing on the world right now, representative nations will be discussing the environment and how to deal with climate change.  In that regard, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) is constructing the house a short distance from the summit to show Japan's potential contribution to cutting emissions in the world's built environment. 

Five Excellent Green Buildings, As Chosen By ...

[+] Top Five American Green Buildings [Building]
[+] Leading Ecoblogger Reveals Top Green Picks [Building]

Stunning Eco Home To Be First Andalusian Zero Carbon Footprint House!

The team at Diseño Earle was kind enough to pass along some info and images of their stunning design of The Eco Home -- a knockout that's aiming to be the first 'zero carbon' footprint home in Andalucia, or even Southern Spain for that matter!  D Earle designed the home with two objectives in mind: (1) zero carbon footprint, and (2) reduce operating costs to almost a self-sufficiency level.  The 6995 sf home, which is absolutely enormous, will be built with 75% less waste than a traditional design and operate 80% more efficiently than a similar sized home.  And although the home design was constrained by the narrow, non-flat site, you can tell there was no restraint in creating the ultimate, luxury, green pad. 

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?

GRAFT & Brad Pitt to Team Up for LEED Gold, Five Star Hotel in Dubai

Zabeel Properties just announced details of a new landmark hotel and leisure development for Dubai.  Although no renderings or designs are yet available, Dubai-based Zabeel Properties also confirmed the appointment of LA-based architecture firm, GRAFT, whose team of design consultants for the project will include the Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt.  Pitt's involvement in the design for the resort demonstrates his interest in green development and architecture.   Says Brad: "Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion.   Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision.   It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment."

Sorry for the celebrity gossip bit, but I just couldn't hold back!  I'm definitely interested in seeing the sustainable design for this new hotel, so we'll have more details when they're released. 

Edificio BIP Computers, Simple Transitivity Design

I was blown away by Alberto Mozó's simple and clean design for the Edificio BIP Computers building in Santiago de Chile.  It's an unassuming three-story structure built on a lot that's zoned to allow a larger structure of up to twelve stories in height.  Knowing that the building may not last very long (due to the favorable location and zoning), the design makes use of standard-sized, laminated timber beams that can be dismounted and used to reconstruct the entire building somewhere else.  Mozo calls the idea "transitivity" -- designing structures that can be easily broken down and reconstructed elsewhere.

Leaf-like Solar Shade Both Functional, Educational

Buro North, a design firm located in Melbourne, Australia, has partnered with Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) to develop this interesting solar-collecting sun shade called the "Solar Shade" for Australian elementary schools.  The Solar Shade concept is part educational and part functional.  Of course, when used in clusters, Solar Shades provide a shaded gathering place that generates energy for the school.  But in addition, the device demonstrates and educates students on the dynamics of harvesting solar energy.  The foundation of the Solar Shade includes LED lights that provide feedback as to whether the orientation is/is not optimal.  When the LEDs turn red, students can grab the handle and rotate the device to absorb more of the sun's rays.   Although still a concept, it's kind of a cool idea -- maybe enthusiasm for the project will push it into production?