Jetson Green

Wentworth Commons Sets Standard for Green, Low Income Housing

Wentworth Commons is a 51-unit, 65,800 sf affordable housing complex in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood.  As a home for at-risk and formerly homeless families and individuals, Wentworth Commons has been recognized for its trendy aesthetics and functional green design.  The $13 million project has a slew of green features, including a 33 kWh PV system that provides 25% of the building's power, a hyper efficient mechanical system, extensive use of locally sourced materials and rapidly renewable materials, and native plantings and bio-swale to reduce storm water runoff. 

Innovative Abōd Takes Small Project Award

The fulcrum of the green building revolution, I think, is conservation and living happily with less.  It'll be interesting to see how we get there, to see if we can live lighter.  In the meantime, I like to monitor small projects to see what piques the interest of crowds.  Lately Abōd® has been getting some quality attention.  Abōd was honored by the AIA this year with a Small Project Award.  The AIA explained the concept: "The design goal was to develop a breakthrough in value-engineered lowest cost housing with an extensive array of add-on options to personalize each home. The resulting design incorporating the Catenary arch is simple and structurally sound but also aesthetically pleasing and can be built by 4 people in just one day with only a screwdriver and an awl."

Holy Cross Project Show House Now a Reality [NOLA]

We talked about renderings and plans for the Holy Cross Project back in August last year, but it's now becoming a reality.  The first home is finished and Global Green plans to open it to the public this coming May.  When finished, the entire project will have four more homes and a 18-unit apartment complex -- all of it low-income and green, too.  Global Green is shooting for LEED Platinum on everything and expects homes to use 75% less energy than a similar, typical building. 

100K House, Unleashing the Modern Green Virus!

I've been following the 100k House Project since the beginning and I'm completely sucked into the process.  It's a simple concept: low cost, modern, and green -- something all houses should be.  Today, they posted all new renderings with James Hardie Vertical Panel siding in various shades of gray.  The new renderings present an entirely different look and feel that's incredible.  Chad, I'm giving you major props on this one.  Interface Studio Architects is right on with that look.  I just wish I could buy one of them!

++New Renderings with Hardie and Stucco Siding [100k]

Project H Design, Put Your Name on a Hippo Roller

I just want to take a quick second to plug a good cause and introduce you to Project H Design, if you haven't already heard of it.  Project H Design was founded by the talented Emily Pilloton, Managing Editor of Inhabitat, as a charitable organization that supports, inspires, and delivers product design initiatives for Humanity, Habitats, Health, and Happiness.  Right now, Project H Design is working on a case study with Hippo Roller.  As you can tell from the image above, Hippo Roller is an incredible, affordable rolling water transport device that makes it easier for developing communities to fetch water more safely and efficiently.  Here in the U.S., we're trying to use less water, while in communities in Northeastern South Africa, people are just trying to get enough water to survive.  That's where you and I can help. 

Project H Design is raising $5,000 asap to purchase 50 Hippo Rollers for delivery to Kgautswane.  You can sponsor one roller for $100, buy 5 for a locality, or buy 10 for a whole community.  Donations are tax deductible.

Crossroads, First Green Homeless Shelter

There's an excellent article in NY Times on what's believed to be the first green homeless shelter in the country.  It's an extraordinary $11 M shelter.  Homeless shelters usually operate out of an old warehouse or derelict building, but this place, Crossroads, is different.  It's a reality primarily as a result of the tenacity of Wendy Jackson, executive director of the East Oakland Community Project of Alameda County.  After seven long years and lots of hard work, Jackson was able to make it happen.  The newly finished, modern building accommodates 125 residents.

GreenMobile: Ultra-Affordable, Modular Green Homes

We featured GreenMobile last year when we blogged about the Lifecycle Building Challenge winners.  GreenMobile was a winner in the Professional Unbuilt category.  Now, mounting success upon success, Michael Berk, creator of the concept, has a prototype in the works to be unveiled in March 2008.  Can't wait to see that!  GreenMobile was awarded $5.8 M from FEMA to further develop the prototype and roughly 80 units are in the pipeline right after that prototype comes through. 

Enviro Board, an Affordable Green Panel Product

Enviro Board is not only a product but a technology.  As you can see from the video below, Enviro Board is able to process up to a ton of straw at one time and convert it into a panel product to be used in construction.  The process can convert many varieties of waste fibers, such as wheat, rice, rye, barley, oat straws, flax, cane, elephant grass, etc., into low-cost building panels.  The award-winning product is non-toxic; resistant to fire, termites, mold, and mildew; earthquake and hurricane stable; and qualifies for LEED points.  And it can be used in the construction of virtually any type of structure in various applications.

Green Financing, Building Codes, Irked Lumber Dealers, + Other Trends (WIR)

• Green standards irk (lumber) dealers. 
• A foundation for green building. 
• Finding financing for you green building project.
• Affordable housing advocates build green and inspire innovation.
• Planner says going green has its advantages.
• S.F. to have greenest building codes in the nation?
• 67% of consumers willing to pay for green power.
• One writer finds it's not easy building green.

Make it Right Project: 13 Designs, 150 Houses

If this project doesn't exhibit the power of celebrity, I don't know what does.  Brad Pitt has been able to bring serious innovation to the Lower Ninth Ward -- this cool concept is becoming a serious reality.  The Make It Right Project ("MIR Project") involves some of the most talented architects in the country, and they're building low-income, high-design, sustainable homes.  It's incredible.

The homes you see below present a new picture of the American Dream.  It's green and looks good.  It's built in response to the environment, not in the face of the environment.  It facilitates the community, too.  There are 13 home designs for 150 total homes.  You can sponsor a home for $150,000.  As much as we'd like to sponsor an entire home in the name of Jetson Green, I'm going to just donate some personally.  Maybe some day this blog will get to that point.  I've included images of the designs for you viewing pleasure (click the firm name for background and more images).  Any favorites?